Not long after, Jiang Bai overheard the guests chatting, and they happened to be talking about the medicinal cuisine restaurant run by Wang Zhongyi and his wife.
Seeing Jiang Bai pass by, they, always eager for a good show, waved him over and asked mysteriously, "Master Jiang, do you know?"
"What do you know?" Jiang Bai was so busy that he barely had time to breathe, so he took this opportunity to catch his breath and asked in a slow and unhurried manner.
"Oh ho, you didn't know that?" Several guests exchanged glances, and one of the busybodies said, "Wang Zhongyi's medicinal cuisine restaurant lost a lot of money, and it seems to be closing down soon."
"You know what, I put a lot of money on my membership card at that restaurant, and now I can't get it all back," another customer said, shaking his head and sighing.
“Their membership card system is a direct copy of Jiang’s; anyone with eyes can see that,” the third guest said.
When Jiang Bai opened the medicinal cuisine restaurant, he never used a membership system. But after opening the milk tea shop, he gradually started making membership cards. During holidays, there were recharge promotions: spend 500 coins and get 50 coins free, spend 1,000 coins and get 100 coins free, not to mention all products were 5% off, and so on.
Once launched, people flocked to it, rushing to apply for the card. Now, more than a thousand card numbers have been auctioned off.
Just a few days after this membership card model was launched, Wang's medicinal cuisine restaurant adopted it as well, without even changing the rules.
Upon hearing this, the first guest tugged at the second guest: "The money is still inside, how can that be? We have to get it back even if we report it to the authorities."
The second customer waved his hand: "It wasn't much money. I didn't order much to begin with, and after trying it twice and seeing no effect, I stopped going."
This medicinal cuisine is more expensive than regular meals, but it's not as good as what you'd find in a fancy restaurant. Several connoisseurs have stopped going there long ago; it's just a novelty for a select few.
The fourth guest spoke up: "I am related to Wang Zhongyi's wife by blood. These days she has borrowed money from everyone around her, so it seems she is really in trouble."
The third guest sighed, "If he really can't pay back the money, his Hongding Restaurant will be forced to close down."
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in surprise.
I've never seen anyone fail at a side hustle and ruin their main job as well.
Jiang Bai knew that the medicinal cuisine restaurant was not doing well, otherwise Madam Wang would not have fired the shop's employees. The "golden boy and jade girl" were diligent and hardworking, which just happened to benefit her milk tea shop.
However, she didn't expect the store to close so soon.
Thinking of the employees in the store, Jiang Bai couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Did they say when they'd close?"
Several guests shook their heads in unison: "I don't think it will last more than a few days. Last time I passed by there, there wasn't a single person at any of the tables inside. All the waiters were gone, and only Madam Wang was sitting dejectedly at the door. When she saw me, she greeted me for a long time."
He didn't go eat there; he had an appointment with someone else that day.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai sighed heavily. She didn't feel like she had gotten revenge. She had trained each of the shop assistants and built the shop little by little. It was a real pity that it was in this state now.
Before Jiang Bai could even find a moment to check on the situation, Aunt Wang arrived at the milk tea shop that afternoon.
She rubbed her hands awkwardly, her face filled with worry. As soon as she saw Jiang Bai, she whispered, "I wouldn't have come to you if I hadn't really had no other choice."
Jiang Bai smiled, pulled her towards the kitchen, and instructed the shop assistant, "Make a cup of hot milk tea and send it to the back."
She pulled Granny Wang into the accounting room, temporarily sending her out to drink milk tea. Once they sat down, she asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"
Aunt Wang wiped her face and said, "Back then, they saw that your medicinal cuisine restaurant was making money and tried every means to force you to leave, so I didn't quite agree. I know your skills; they're not something that just anyone can learn superficially."
When she compared Wang Zhongyi and his wife to cats and dogs, Jiang Bai curled the corners of his mouth.
"Isn't this it?" Aunt Wang spread her hands. "When the medicinal cuisine restaurant first opened, it was popular for a few days. Later, in order to save money, Zhongyi fired all the staff. Now it's even worse. No matter how much we offer discounts, nobody wants to come."
Jiang Bai smiled.
She asked Granny Wang calmly, "Granny, what are your plans for coming here this time?"
Aunt Wang sighed, "They're too ashamed to see you, so they sent me here. My wife is about to be buried, I'm not afraid of losing face. I came here to ask you, if the medicinal cuisine restaurant is returned to you as is, would you still want to keep it open?"
Jiang Bai's mind raced, and after a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Will you still rent it to me like before?"
“No, I’m selling the whole courtyard to you,” Aunt Wang replied.
The Wang family knew perfectly well that they had kicked Jiang Bai out halfway through the process, disregarding the contents of the signed contract. Jiang Bai did not file a lawsuit because of Wang Da Niang's sake.
But face can't always be used. Jiang Bai saved Wang Da Niang's life back then. Although Wang Da Niang helped her attract business and open up the market for her medicinal cuisine, it was a matter of repaying kindness and duty. Jiang Bai had already done more than enough. Now, if she were to take over this mess, she wouldn't be stupid enough to agree.
So Wang Zhongyi pondered for a long time and set a price that was almost like selling it for free.
Jiang Bai knew that if she didn't take over, no one would be willing to open a medicinal cuisine restaurant in that courtyard anymore. But if they weren't going to do business there, the renovations would have to be torn down.
That's equivalent to losing seventy taels of silver.
Only by selling the renovations along with the property to Jiang Bai can it be a mutually beneficial deal.
Thinking of this, Jiang Bai didn't give Wang Da Niang a definite answer, but only said, "I need to go back and discuss it with Zhao Yi."
“It needs to be discussed, it needs to be discussed,” Aunt Wang said. She hadn’t expected Jiang Bai to agree so readily, and she was already quite pleased to see that he hadn’t refused. “We’ll still be staying in the courtyard for the next few days. If you’ve made up your mind, feel free to come and find us anytime.”
"Okay." Jiang Bai nodded.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and the young girl at the counter came over with a cup of milk tea.
Jiang Bai took it and looked down. He saw that the girl was very generous and had put a lot of turtle jelly in it.
She handed it to Aunt Wang: "Auntie, try our shop's signature milk tea first."
Aunt Wang reluctantly accepted the drink, took a sip, and seeing the little girl still standing beside her, as if she had something to say, she quickly stood up and took her leave.
After seeing Granny Wang off, Jiang Bai whispered to the little girl, "What's the matter now?"
"Honey, your brother is here." The little girl pointed towards the corner.
Jiang Bai looked over and saw Tian Rou and Jiang Cheng standing there. When they saw her looking over, they both smiled, their white teeth shining.
Jiang Bai turned to look at the little girl.
Before Jiang Bai could speak, the little girl nodded immediately: "I understand, I'll make two more cups of milk tea and bring them to the back."
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