Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Can’t Compete
Ji Nishang did not know that "Flower Garden Ode" was controlled by Qu Fulan.
Because of that portrait, she sent someone to investigate Li Jirou, but only found out that her current name is Qu Fulan, and learned nothing else.
As for the milk tea and Journey to the West, she also did not know it was controlled by Qu Fulan.
Ji Nishang is still striving to buy off the shopkeeper of Ten Thousand Books Bookstore, but unfortunately, the old man is quite stubborn and won’t be swayed by any amount offered.
Cai Youliang mentioned there might be a way to try, but it requires some planning over time, so Ji Nishang is just waiting for results to reap the benefits.
Right now, the priority is Xiao’s Milk Tea.
Ji Nishang doesn’t pay any heed to the creator of "Flower Garden Ode" milk tea. What kind of businessman wouldn’t seize the opportunity?
Let’s see how the Xiao Family’s milk tea shops open simultaneously in all directions of the Capital City today and make a name for themselves, and who will remember milk tea originated from "Flower Garden Ode" afterward?
Ji Nishang doesn’t feel she is encroaching on someone else’s achievements. She identified the taste through her own skills, not by sending someone to steal the formula, so how is that encroaching?
Besides, who said that "Flower Garden Ode" was definitely the first to create it? How do we know that other places aren’t capable of making it? Maybe they just didn’t become famous and went unnoticed.
Now she wants to label the shop as Xiao’s Milk Tea Shop; it’s just business, based on ability.
The Pei Family is welcome to label theirs like this too, just to see if they could succeed.
Ji Nishang is very confident that today "Xiao’s Milk Tea" will be famous throughout the Capital City.
Her confidence is not without reason.
On the first day she took over Tingya Building, she sent small gifts to the noble ladies who had tasted the milk tea, informing them early about when "Xiao’s Milk Tea" would open, inviting them to attend.
Ji Nishang did not send anything expensive; after all, what good things don’t those noblewomen have? She might as well send something novel they haven’t seen before, something from her hometown.
The noble ladies received her warmly and naturally agreed.
Moreover, although she was restricted in her freedom these past few days, she had arranged for someone to send invitations to those noble ladies a day in advance, inviting them to join the opening day festivities.
Ji Nishang is very confident in her business strategies.
Everything hinges on today.
Originally, Xiao’s Milk Tea was not eager to open today, but Ji Nishang found out Pei Family milk tea was opening and specifically had the date changed.
Only with contrast can excellence be recognized.
Early in the morning, the sound of loud firecrackers rang from the south, on Beitang Street. After the firecrackers, the ground was covered in red, symbolizing a good start.
Then there was lion dancing. This lively marketing tactic attracted quite a crowd quickly.
It’s early in the morning, though; who would walk in to drink milk tea? It’s just a preliminary warm-up; today’s opening will have lively marketing all day long.
It wasn’t clear how much time passed before a few fragrant carriages finally headed towards "Xiao’s Milk Tea Shop."
Ji Nishang saw it from inside and hurried out to greet them.
"Mrs. Wang, Madam Chen, Mrs. Xin... Thank you all for coming; your presence brings glory to this ’Xiao’s Milk Tea,’" Ji Nishang said with a wide smile.
These ladies had all previously patronized Tingya Building and received invitation cards yesterday.
Ji Nishang quickly invited them in, ordering the staff to serve them well.
Then she looked at the opposing milk tea shop. Despite numerous flower baskets at the entrance and the lively lion dancing, there seemed to be no one entering.
The mastermind behind that milk tea shop is ultimately not suited for business; what can they compare to her?
"Xiao’s Milk Tea" is exclusively aimed at female customers, providing excellent privacy, definitely favored by the noble ladies and young misses in the Capital City’s elite circle.
Mrs. Xiao brought her daughter and other female relatives to support them, and upon seeing the opposite situation, couldn’t help but inquire.
"What are they doing on the other side? Why haven’t they unveiled the red silk yet?"
"I heard they are also selling milk tea, but it’s unclear why they’re reluctant to unveil the red silk. If they’re opening a shop for business, what’s the point of such concealment? I can’t understand," Mrs. Xiao explained.
"The entrance and other spots are covered up, keeping people from seeing clearly. How could anyone want to enter?"
The noble ladies merely discussed a few sentences and let it go.
Ji Nishang instructed her maid to keep watch at the door. If any distinguished guests arrived, they should promptly inform her, so she waited on the first floor while letting her aunt interact with those noble ladies upstairs.
Meanwhile, the opposing milk tea shop was still deserted.
The lion dancers at the entrance were exhausted, taking breaks to sip tea and catch their breath.
Manager Wang looked worried.
Originally, he suggested promoting at "Flower Garden Ode," bringing the milk tea customers over to boost the new store, but Miss Qu rejected the idea, telling him to concentrate on managing the store and not to worry about promotion.
The result of not worrying about promotion is that now the opposite shop has customers, and theirs does not.
Speaking of which, this milk tea shop started renovations a month ago. At that time, Miss Qu only asked him to hire craftsmen to make the store’s interior similar to the third floor of "Flower Garden Ode."
After that, Miss Qu stopped intervening, leaving everything in charge of him. Now the store is renovated, and the staff are all familiar faces, everything is fine except for the lack of business.
The promotional plan Miss Qu mentioned has yet to be seen. What exactly is happening?
The key issue is that they are opening today, yet the store sign and the coverings on the surrounding walls have not been removed.
How can this attract customers?
Manager Wang sighed deeply, and then finally saw carriages stopping in front of their milk tea shop, bringing him newfound energy as he hurried out to greet them.
However, when the noble lady got off the carriage, she said, "Oh, wrong place, it’s the opposite shop."
Manager Wang: "..."
A breeze passed by, how chilly.
After waiting about the right amount of time, Manager Wang followed Miss Qu’s instructions to finally reveal the store sign and the covers on the outside walls.
Having pulled down those covers, Manager Wang didn’t even look at the sign or what was exposed on the walls; he just kept sighing.
It would have been better to uncover the red silk early in the morning to show off the sign; now the lion dancers are exhausted and heading for meals, and the other guests have entered the opposite shop.
What’s the point of unveiling the sign now?
The shopkeeper and staff across couldn’t help but mock them, wondering what special qualities a sign could have to be unveiled so late, only to find nothing impressive.
"Burning Immortal Grass Milk Tea? This name is too casual."
As soon as the words were spoken, footsteps sounded from both ends of the street, drawing attention to a rising cloud of dust in the distance.
Xiao’s Shopkeeper squinted ahead, and saw a dark crowd moving forward—what else could it be but a swarm of people?
"Huh? Where did all these people suddenly come from, what’s going on?"
"Where’s the ’Burning Immortal Grass Milk Tea’?" someone in the crowd asked.
"There it is, if you’re late there won’t be seats! Hurry!" another pointed out eagerly.