In her past life, Yang Yajing didn't have much interaction with Zhou Pengfei's friends; in fact, they became more and more estranged as they grew older.
The reason for this is probably that they are all shrewd people and don't like Jiang Xuanxuan's style.
Yang Yajing, on the other hand, treated her like a close friend, spoiling and indulging her, and even making excuses for her when she got into trouble, so they never had a good impression of her.
Basically, it's like: What's the use of being good at studying? With such low emotional intelligence, isn't she just a naive and innocent type?
In addition, Yang Yajing never participated in their group activities, so she was given the title of "unsociable".
This last point is truly unfair to Yang Yajing. She's not antisocial at all; she's just too poor to socialize!
Back then, I was seventeen or eighteen years old, and even basic necessities like food and clothing were a problem. Where would I find spare money for entertainment? Karaoke, dinner parties, outings... none of these things were free.
Although Zhou Pengfei knew a little about her situation and offered to treat her, Yang Yajing didn't like owing favors! Especially, she didn't want any financial entanglements with Zhou Pengfei, fearing things might become complicated.
Besides, constantly accepting free meals without reciprocating would be impolite and would make her seem like a recipient of welfare. How could the somewhat aloof Yang Yajing possibly tolerate that?
That's why she chose to focus on practical feasibility over building good relationships.
However, in this life, she doesn't want to be the version that no one likes. She will not let the Yang family fall to the point of barely making ends meet again.
In my previous life, due to lagging investment, the noodle shop's business became increasingly sluggish. Other shops renovated and raised prices, making the competition increasingly fierce.
Fewer customers mean less income, while rising prices mean missing the opportunity to renovate.
By the time Yang Yajing was about to graduate from junior high school, the old restaurant had become deserted due to diners' pursuit of a better environment.
So in this life, she is determined to start by changing the recipes, determined to get ahead of her competitors and take off before them.
These red bean rolls were the first step in her "project plan".
For Yang Yajing, who is passionate about finance and business management, the fact that she couldn't choose her favorite major because she was poor in her previous life was a lifelong regret.
But she never gave up on this interest. Even while working as a thankless teaching assistant at the university, she would still audit classes in the finance department whenever she had free time and take careful notes.
Whenever the school organizes an event or plans something, she would simulate writing a "project proposal" herself and offer suggestions to the person making the proposal.
Although the credit was all given to others, in her heart, these were all successful experiences in turning her theories into practice.
In this life, she was finally able to put this knowledge and experience to use, which was a very joyful thing for her!
The news of the tasting spread quickly. With Jin Yu, a devoted fan, adding fuel to the fire with her gossip and chattering away, the next day many parents came to the store to ask if they sold it.
I heard that the trial sales will not start until next Monday, and it will be in small quantities. People are asking if they can place an order.
"How many cakes do we need to order?" Sylvia Chang asked, both amused and exasperated.
"Oh! Sister Zhang, you have no idea! My little darling heard that her friend ate a delicious and cheap cake, and she was a step too late and missed out, and she threw a huge tantrum!" one parent exclaimed dramatically.
"Yes! Yes! My brat is the same way, saying that if I can't buy it, it's because I'm incompetent! Don't you think this is the result of my spoiling him?"
"Yes! Sister Zhang, please be kind and let us deal with this monkey spirit in our house!"
"That's right! If someone causes a ruckus in Heaven just because others have it but he doesn't, I can't handle it!"
...
With each of them saying something, Sylvia Chang softened.
She took out paper and pen and had them write down their names one by one, promising that she would leave each of them a box on Monday. Only then were they satisfied.
"Ya Jing!" It was finally closing time, and Sylvia Chang immediately went to her daughter's room. "What do we do? So many people want to make reservations, how long will it take to process them all?"
"How many? Let me see?" Taking the notebook, Yang Yajing counted them. Wow, a great start on the first day! A full one hundred and ten boxes!
Wouldn't that mean making eleven dishes? Adding the three dishes she originally planned to put on the counter, wouldn't that make fourteen dishes?
"Mom, it looks like we'll have to close early on Sunday."
"How early?" Sylvia Chang asked.
"Shouldn't you close after the evening rush hour? There are fewer people around seven o'clock." After saying that, she rolled her eyes and seized the opportunity to continue, "How about you put up a notice, Mom, that we'll close at seven o'clock every Sunday from now on?"
“It’s not like we have to make pastries every week. Are we not making money?” Sylvia Chang glared at Yang Yajing.
"Mom! You and Dad need to rest too! Good health is the most important thing! We can't just donate the money we earn to hospitals, can we?"
"Yeah! That's true!"
Sylvia Chang recently started trying to save some money because free healthcare was canceled early last year.
These days, seeing a doctor costs money, and getting medicine costs money. Ordinary people are really afraid of getting sick!
Yang Yajing continued to encourage, "There are fewer people working on Sundays, and business isn't very good in the evenings anyway. Why don't we work when there's work and rest when there isn't?"
"Great! My daughter knows how to care for her parents! How thoughtful!" Sylvia Chang felt a warmth in her heart.
"Mom, if you feel like you have nothing to do, we can continue to research delicious food on Sunday and try out some new recipes?" Yang Yajing winked mischievously.
“If you can always come up with something this good, then go ahead and experiment!” Sylvia Chang felt she was falling behind fashion trends, and she had always been open-minded, believing that if her child liked something, she should let her do it.
Even if they fail, their family isn't short of money, is it?
Having appeased her mother, Yang Yajing dragged Zhou Pengfei back to do the hard work on Friday.
School ends early on Fridays, and Yang Yajing, along with Zhou Pengfei, took a tricycle with Yang Guohua to buy plastic packaging boxes.
"Why did you bring me here if you're doing procurement?" Zhou Pengfei asked, puzzled.
"You have a great artistic talent! We'll see what your eye is for choosing the tags!" It wasn't that Yang Yajing couldn't choose; she just wanted to bring Zhou Pengfei into her life as soon as possible!
"That cake seems to be more popular with girls," Zhou Pengfei thought for a moment. "How about we choose a cuter one?"
"Uncle Zhou, don't you like it?" Yang Yajing asked again.
"Uh! Except for my dad! He really likes it and asked me to buy him a few more boxes on Monday so he can show them off at school!" Zhou Pengfei scratched his head.
“Okay! You help me choose the labels, and I’ll send you five boxes to Uncle Zhou to burn incense at school!” Yang Yajing readily agreed.
"Burning incense? What incense? He's a Christian, not a Buddhist." Zhou Pengfei didn't understand.
"Oh! It just means getting along well with colleagues!" Yang Yajing nudged Zhou Pengfei's dazed head. "He who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding! It's like burning incense for Buddha; only then will Buddha bless you with twice the results with half the effort!"
"What's going on in your little head? Is it all worldly wisdom or not?" Zhou Pengfei remained noncommittal.
"Didn't you say I'm a capitalist? Capitalists need to do big business, how can they not be worldly-wise?" Yang Yajing decisively brainwashed him.
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