She immediately gathered her employees in the backyard courtyard and publicly announced the momentous decision to "clear out all old products and concentrate our efforts on developing and launching brand new pastries!"
Although this decision was extremely risky and challenging, no one was willing to be defeated by Zheng Yutang so easily. Moreover, everyone looked at He Yi and could tell from the burning light in her eyes that this was a protracted battle.
They also understood that He Yi wouldn't easily admit defeat. The young men were initially worried that He Yi would suffer a setback this time, fearing that they would soon be out of commission.
Little did they know that they had been developing entirely new pastries all this time. Hearing about those unheard-of, novel and interesting desserts, everyone's enthusiasm was ignited in that instant.
Qingju and several of the older female cooks, in particular, were eager to try their hand at it.
"Princess, just tell us what to do, and we women will do it!"
"That's right! Let's show that shameless guy on the other side what we're really capable of!"
The crowd was instantly filled with excitement and high spirits. A desperate counterattack concerning the future of Tianxiangfang began in the small backyard.
At the same time, the new signboard that He Yi had ordered from a workshop was also delivered.
It was made of a thick, ancient piece of wood, even larger than the Zhengtianxiangfang across the street, and the ebony plaque was inscribed by Su Xipo, the most famous calligrapher in the city.
The signboard no longer bore the name Tianxiangfang, but rather three powerful characters—Zhiweitang. The edges of the signboard were also adorned with exquisite scrollwork patterns, truly exuding a high-end and sophisticated air.
Before the opening, He Yi personally directed several employees to carefully remove the old signboard. As they watched the familiar plaque being gently placed down, a pang of unspeakable pain welled up in everyone's hearts.
But everyone understood that, as He Yi would say, "out with the old, in with the new." Immediately afterwards, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the brand-new "Zhiweitang" plaque was hung up by several young employees.
Under the blazing sunlight, the deep hue of the ebony plaque contrasts beautifully with the gleaming gold lettering.
As dawn broke again, Suzaku Street awoke in the light.
The tightly closed doors of "Zhiweitang" suddenly swung open, and Zheng Yu's opera troupe had already arrived. Then, the deafening sounds of gongs and drums and deafening firecrackers filled the air.
Many people from the neighborhood came upon hearing the news, all thinking that Tianxiangfang was going to close down. Little did they know that things were different now. Zheng Yu's opera troupe was playing music and making a great commotion.
A striking sign stood at the entrance, bearing a line of calligraphy by Zheng Yu in his elegant and flowing running script.
"Store upgraded and renamed Zhiweitang! Today, we proudly launch our exclusive new secret-recipe products."
"Durian pastry, banana pastry, exquisite crystal glutinous rice balls, rich and fragrant snow skin mooncakes... Opening today, free tastings, surprises galore!"
The name, so novel it was almost bizarre, instantly attracted the attention of many onlookers.
"Durian pastry? What's durian?"
"Bananas can be used to make pancakes now? That's really rare."
"Snow skin mooncakes? Aren't mooncakes baked? That's really rare. The little princess is truly amazing."
Immediately, murmurs arose, and onlookers, some watching the spectacle, others approached, their eyes filled with curiosity.
What's even more striking is that an extremely powerful and rich aroma wafts continuously from the open shop of Zhiweitang.
The fragrance permeated the entire area, almost completely covering Suzaku Street.
No longer content with just watching from afar, someone cautiously approached, glancing timidly at the shop. Qingju, standing nearby, quickly came over to greet her, "Auntie, would you like to buy something to eat?"
"Free samples? Is that for real? Don't try to charge me later." Clearly, the old lady was tempted by the word "free." Hearing this, Qingju chuckled, "Of course it's free! The young princess is rich and powerful, why would she need your measly little treats?"
At first, the old lady was hesitant to go inside, but seeing how enthusiastically Qingju greeted her, she smiled and waved to lead her family to Zhiweitang for a free tasting.
Someone else came over and asked Qingju, "Is the durian flavor good?" The person hesitated, wanting to go inside and try it, but not daring to.
Qingju smiled and said, "Anyway, it's free, so why don't you try it? If you like it, remember to come back often." Qingju was a nice girl, and she was always very friendly to the customers she brought.
At that moment, a young girl walked over, probably driven by curiosity, and came in to try the food. Under everyone's gaze, the girl carefully picked up a small piece of golden and crispy pastry and put it in her mouth.
The girl looked a little disgusted. She first frowned and chewed a couple of times, but her expression was quickly replaced by surprise and shock. In the end, she actually widened her eyes!
Without further hesitation, the girl began to savor the food, quickly devouring a small piece. She licked her fingers, savoring every last bit, and exclaimed with delight, "It's so crispy, crunchy, soft, and sweet, with an indescribable, wonderful aroma! Absolutely amazing! Boss, give me a pound! No! Three pounds!"
[The "it smells so good, but it's late!" principle has arrived! Haha, this girl is really something!]
Free samples are always a winning strategy!
[Durian Pastry: Love and hate can be separated in an instant!]
[The villainous female supporting character is really something; she's about to bring down the other side.]
The onlookers initially thought the food wouldn't taste good, but seeing the girl eating it with such relish, everyone instantly became excited! So one by one, they all went into the shop.
Soon, a long, winding queue formed in front of the free tasting counter, and everyone who tried the food went through a change in expression from doubt to amazement.
Wow! This banana pastry is surprisingly soft and chewy, with a rich banana flavor that's not greasy at all!
"Oh my god! This glutinous rice ball is so cool and refreshing, and the red bean paste filling is so smooth and sweet. It's just right for my taste."
"Especially this snowball-shaped pancake, it truly melts in your mouth and is much more refreshing than baked ones!"
Exclamations of amazement and praise rose and fell, blending together into a chorus of voices.
Almost everyone who tried the food immediately started buying it. The small "Zhiweitang" restaurant was instantly packed with people, and the staff were so busy they were drenched in sweat.
Everyone had a bright smile on their face. They had been cooped up for a while, hardly seeing a soul all day long, but now everyone was busy as bees.
And on the other side...
There was no one left at "Zhengtianxiangfang". Lin sat down in a fit of anger and looked coldly at the opposite side. Their place was now deserted and rarely visited.
Lin Shoucai, Lin Shi, and Zheng Yutang stood like three clay or wooden sculptures in front of their shop, watching helplessly as countless people gathered in front of Zhiweitang.
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