"Want to go to the Star-Picking Tower? It's 66% off, and I heard that Miss Shishi from the Jiaosifang will be playing the pipa."
"I've heard that the food there is delicious, and that a great scholar is hidden there. The poem that appeared in the night sky last night is considered by many scholars to be exquisite."
The next day, when they met, many people were discussing the Star-Picking Tower. In the warm spring of March, when flowers were in bloom, many noble ladies and young men from prominent families in the capital had already shed their heavy winter clothes.
The Star-Picking Pavilion has become a place that wealthy people want to go to these days, and many prominent families know that this restaurant is owned by Princess Rui.
"Manager, what does this membership mean?" The wealthy merchant, Master Wang, asked, looking at the notice at Zhaixing Tower, puzzled.
Lu Neng chuckled and explained the membership system in detail, then added with a touch of flattery, "Sir, you exude an air of wealth and nobility; five hundred taels of silver is nothing to you. However, you can become a VIP guest of Zhaixinglou, and enjoy a 20% discount every time you dine here. Moreover, if you sign up for a card today, in addition to the 36% discount on opening day, you will also receive a complimentary serving of our restaurant's special 'Blooming Prosperity' pastry."
"That sounds pretty good. Five hundred taels, right? Come on, count me in." After thinking for a moment, Master Wang took out his money and said.
"Alright, sir, what is your surname?" Lu Neng took the silver note and handed it to Chen Liansheng, who was standing next to him, and took out the membership card he had prepared in advance.
"My surname is Wang."
"Congratulations, Mr. Wang, on becoming a member of the Star-Picking Pavilion. Please keep your membership card safe. You can use it to pay your bill or recharge your account."
Master Wang accepted the iron plate inlaid with gold wire on all four sides; there was a number in the upper right corner consisting of two circles and a vertical line. "This...it really is gold."
"It's just gold thread. Master Wang has the first membership card for Zhaixinlou. Please sit wherever you like. Just show this membership card when you pay the bill."
Seeing that the other guests were looking over, Master Wang felt very honored and immediately said with a smile, "As expected of Zhaixing Tower, this gold-thread-wrapped-iron design is truly ingenious!"
"I'll get one too. Five hundred taels of silver. The cost of meals will be deducted directly from the account, right? There's no time limit, is there?"
"As long as Zhaixinglou is still there, customers can come to dine with their cards. Zhaixinglou will register customers' surnames and membership card numbers, and will verify both sides each time the bill is settled," Luneng explained.
"What if your Star-Picking Tower goes out of business?"
"Don't worry, sir. In the capital, if Zhaixinglou were to go out of business, they would put up a notice in advance and refund your remaining money," Lu Neng said confidently. "Our boss is no ordinary person."
The onlookers were also wondering, who is behind this Star-Picking Tower?
"Get me one, and I'll get one too." Just then, a customer shouted, "If you're not going to get one, move aside and get mine first."
"Who said I wouldn't do it? Here, I brought the silver notes with me today."
"And my husband, we need to get one too!"
In an instant, a group of people crowded around the counter, vying to sign up for membership cards.
"Big sister, is there... something in here... um, a torrent?" Bai Yumei knocked in that direction and saw Tao Wanniang come out of the kitchen. She went up to her and asked in a low voice.
"Shh, don't say anything if you see through it. We've got work to do, I need to go cook. Yu Mei, you need to carefully check today's accounts with Manager Lu and Chen Liansheng. Make sure you know exactly which customer bought a membership card and how much they spent!"
"Yes, I will definitely check it carefully," Bai Yumei assured.
In the kitchen, everyone was busy. As soon as the waiter brought the menu, Tao Wan's mother immediately got to work.
Liu Yueniang's pastry shop had a section specially set aside in the kitchen to separate it from the kitchen's oil fumes. She was the only pastry chef in the entire kitchen, and she was even busier by herself.
Membership card, prepaid
The business acumen of Zhaixinglou was also passed on to the Chamber of Commerce.
"This Star-Picking Pavilion is acting so recklessly, not only monopolizing customers but also causing losses to the money shop's business. Chairman, don't you plan to intervene?" Zhao Changgui's face was displeased. With the Prince Rui's Mansion as its backing, the Star-Picking Pavilion had suddenly snatched away a lot of customers from the capital, causing his restaurant to suffer great losses.
Jin Danyang was in a real bind. The Prince Rui's son had given the Chamber of Commerce some benefits; of course, Zhao Changgui's Ziyang Tower was also a VIP of the Chamber of Commerce.
"Manager Zhao, no one said this is impossible!" Jin Danyang said leisurely. "What Zhaixing Tower can do, you can do too!"
"They want a membership fee of five hundred taels, yours is four hundred taels, and then you can offer a discount as a promotion, isn't that enough?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Changgui raised an eyebrow and said unhappily, "Is my Ziyang Tower inferior to Zhaixing Tower? Why should I be one hundred taels less than them?"
"Hehe, Manager Zhao, this is just a suggestion. Your Ziyanglou has been the number one restaurant in the capital for many years. Even if your membership fee is one thousand taels, I think it's feasible," Jin Danyang said, praising Zhao Changgui.
That was a reasonable explanation, and Zhao Changgui's expression softened slightly. This Zhaixinglou had come up with a new trick: five hundred taels for one member, five thousand taels for ten, and fifty thousand taels for one hundred. So much money was being put into the restaurant...
However, Zhao Changgui felt that before establishing this membership, he still needed to cause some trouble at Zhaixinglou. After leaving the Chamber of Commerce, Zhao Changgui went to visit an old friend who ran a money exchange.
"I've heard about what you're talking about, but Manager Zhao is overthinking it. This doesn't conflict with our money exchange," the manager of Huitong Money Exchange said directly.
"All this money went to the restaurant, aren't you worried?" Zhao Changgui asked, puzzled.
"The restaurant can't hold that much money, so in the end it will just be deposited in our money exchange, Manager Zhao. We've discussed it among several money exchanges, and it doesn't matter to us where Zhaixinglou deposits it. Of course, it would be best if it could be deposited with us!"
Zhao Changgui was stunned again. Yes, how could he be confused? He was really distracted by the buzz surrounding Zhaixinglou. It was indeed inappropriate for the restaurant to keep so much money there.
"Old friend, tell me, is this membership system launched by Zhaixinglou really worthwhile?" Zhao Changgui asked, frowning. "This is an unprecedented way to make money, so why would customers be willing to pay so much money all at once?"
"Naturally, there are discounts for members. Manager Zhao, I dare say that once Zhaixinglou sets this precedent, other merchants in the capital will gradually follow suit."
"For the restaurant, earning a little less means retaining customers; for the customers, they can enjoy the low prices and become accustomed to Zhaixinglou. It's a win-win situation!"
Therefore, if I don't hurry up and follow suit, I won't be able to reap this benefit.
“Old friend, I understand. I’ll go back right away and get one too. Our Ziyang Tower’s name was written by a reclusive master. ‘The rising sun brings auspicious purple energy!’” Zhao Changgui said calmly. “Old friend, farewell. My Ziyang Tower is also going to implement a membership system!”
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