Chapter 317 Look, what she saw
He Jinglan leaned over to look at Xixi.
"Then you can lose one to me and see."
"Anyway, I have gotten all my dowry. If I lose it all, that's good. I don't want to get married yet."
Gu Xixi couldn't help but laugh, "You don't want to get married?"
"Who is our old friend named Meng among the Jinwu Guards?"
He Jinglan pretended to be confused even though she knew the truth. "Old friends are old friends. What else can they be?"
Gu Xixi smiled helplessly and shook her head, "Why do I feel like you are setting a trap for me?"
"The more you say it doesn't matter if you lose everything, the more I have to pay attention to it."
He Jinglan finally couldn't hold back her laughter and said, "Can we both stop pretending?"
"I know you are confident, and I have your full support. This shop is mine, so even if we lose money, it won't be a big loss. Let's go all out and do it."
"Besides, it has already been agreed that you will be the second boss, so don't even think about pretending to me at this time!"
Gu Xixi smiled and said, "Okay, since you are eager to make money, I will give you all the recipes when we get back to the inn. Thirty-six of them, including some for spring and summer, which are enough for you to use when you first open your store."
He Jinglan was surprised and delighted, "Have you written the recipe?"
"You're still afraid of this and that, even though you're clearly ready."
Gu Xixi smiled but said nothing.
As early as when He Jinglan returned to the capital, Gu Xixi started writing recipes for sweet soup.
In addition to some of the types she has already successfully made, she has also added pearl milk tea, fresh flower milk tea, Pu'er tea milk tea and other types. The recipes of citrate black tea and sour plum soup have also been adjusted and upgraded.
Gu Xixi makes each recipe herself, and determines the taste based on her experience of drinking so many beverages.
The thirty-six kinds of syrups that were finally chosen were all long-lasting and well-received flavors from various milk tea shops and bottled drinks that she had tried.
It’s a pity that a certain happy water cannot be restored, otherwise it would have taken the capital by storm once it was launched?
But confidence is confidence, and Gu Xixi will not be overconfident so early.
After all, she has no business experience. She only looks at it from a consumer's perspective and knows that the reasons for whether a store is popular or not are complex.
Is the store's exterior and interior attractive?
What is the style? What kind of consumer groups does the positioning attract?
How to set the price? How to promote it?
Every little thing is a science.
Gu Xixi recommended to He Jinglan that it would be best to hire a teahouse manager who has experience in running a teahouse.
He Jinglan said straightforwardly, "It's just poaching people, that's easy. We still need to recruit assistants anyway, so let's arrange it together."
"As for the interior and exterior decoration, let's discuss it. I'll draw the blueprint tonight and have someone measure it and start the work tomorrow."
Gu Xixi sighed, "Are you so anxious?"
He Jinglan smiled, "Since we are here, the more we can do, the better."
"I also wanted you to personally cut the ribbon for the opening of our dessert shop before you go home."
The two stayed in the shop for the whole afternoon.
During this time, the driver Lao Li brought food boxes packed from a nearby restaurant.
After dinner, Gu Xixi and He Jinglan continued to work and finally decided on the basic decoration plan for various parts of the shop.
The remaining interior furnishings, ornaments and decorations can be refined more slowly.
On the way back in the carriage, Gu Xixi was still thinking.
"It's hard to please everyone. I'm not completely sure whether the locals will buy into it."
“It’s best to have more people taste test the food before opening the store.”
"Hmm..." He Jinglan frowned and thought for a while, then suddenly it dawned on her.
"I have a plan."
She kept it a secret for now, "Just go ahead and do your thing. I'll take care of this."
When they arrived at the inn, He Jinglan got off the car and followed Gu Xixi into the inn.
Gu Xixi looked at her in surprise, "It's getting late, aren't you going home?"
"Go back," He Jinglan said as a matter of course, "Take your luggage and come back with me."
Gu Xixi tried to convince him with reason, "I live quite well here, and it is convenient for me to visit various teahouses and tea shops."
He Jinglan smiled and said, "My home is not far from here, it won't affect your business."
“Living in my own home is quiet, safe and clean.”
Gu Xixi didn't want to bother other people, "But..."
"No buts!" He Jinglan said firmly, "It's settled."
She went upstairs and picked up Gu Xixi's bag without being invited, then knocked on the door opposite.
After He Jinglan explained her purpose, An Qinghe was in high spirits. "I lived at Xixi's house before, and now I live at your house. I think it's a good idea to switch places."
He glanced at Gu Xixi and added, "As long as Xixi goes, I will go."
Jiang Mingyuan and He Jinglan had only met once from a distance and had never even spoken to each other, so naturally they were not as familiar with each other as An Qinghe.
He cupped his hands and said politely, "Thank you very much for your kindness, Miss He, but I really can't bother you."
He Jinglan stared at Jiang Mingyuan and raised the corners of her lips. "You are so evasive. Do you know who my brother is? You are afraid that if you step into my house, you will be branded as the He family."
"Or does Mr. Jiang have his eyes on a certain person and wants him to be his disciple?"
At moments like this, He Jinglan still reveals the keenness of a daughter of an aristocratic family.
Despite such obvious intention of inquiry, Jiang Mingyuan remained neither panicked nor anxious.
"I came from the northwest and have no connections in the capital. I don't think I have the ability to climb the ladder to heaven."
"So I just want to stay at home and study recently."
He looked at He Jinglan, his eyes clear and unwavering.
"I have heard of Mr. He's reputation for a long time and I admire him. If I have the opportunity to learn from him in person, I will be honored."
"After the results of the spring exam are announced, if Lord He doesn't mind, I will pay you a formal visit."
The answer was neither humble nor arrogant, and also showed worldly wisdom.
He Jinglan's attitude towards Jiang Mingyuan also became serious. "Okay, then I wish Mr. Jiang to get what he wants and become a disciple of the emperor."
Jiang Mingyuan bowed in return.
Before leaving, He Jinglan told Jiang Mingyuan that if he had any difficulties, he could go to Xiao He's house to find Gu Xixi.
An Qinghe also said that he would come to the inn to see Jiang Mingyuan often, so that everyone would not worry.
Gu Xixi sat in He Jinglan's carriage, and An Qinghe followed in an empty carriage.
Xiao He Mansion is located in Tonghuafang, separate from the original He family residence in Beijing.
Tonghuafang is very close to the imperial city, and most of the people living here are officials, especially on the street where Xiao He Mansion is located.
As soon as the carriage turned the corner, Gu Xixi felt that the surroundings were obviously much quieter than outside.
Vaguely seeing a brightly lit place outside, she curiously lifted the curtain to look inside.
I saw several guards standing outside the gate of a mansion, and more than a dozen bright tile lamps hanging high up, illuminating the surroundings.
The plaque above reads: Regent's Palace.
Gu Xixi froze, and her mind automatically translated it into two words: Hell.
He Jinglan behind him was as quiet as a quail at this moment.
An Qinghe's excited voice came from the back of the carriage, "Is this the Regent's Palace?"
Until Gu Xixi turned around like a lost soul, He Jinglan quickly clarified, "I'm not trying to trick you into going to his house! He just lives a little closer...that's all."
Gu Xixi was in a trance for a moment, and suddenly grabbed He Jinglan's shoulders and shook her, "Why didn't you tell me before you set off?!"
He Jinglan said aggrievedly, "If I tell you, can you go home with me?"
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