Chapter Forty: Offering New Perspectives
“Hmm?” Xia Shian looked at her with some curiosity. What did “OK” mean?
Liang Yunqing realized she had misspoken and quickly explained, “OK means I agree.”
“How interesting.”
The two stopped talking much and casually chatted about trivial matters while waiting for the maid to finish writing the contract and bring it over.
Liang Yunqing was initially rambling nonsense when suddenly a thought popped into her mind—one she had actually conceived back when she was making tofu.
Organizing her words in her head, she spoke seriously, “By the way, Master Xia, I haven’t asked—until what time does the Xike Restaurant usually operate in the evening?”
Xia Shian was a bit surprised by her sudden change of topic but answered quickly, “Until Shen hour.”
Liang Yunqing nodded. She recalled that Shen hour was roughly around four in the afternoon. Isn’t that too early to close?
“Has Master Xia ever thought about extending the operating hours?”
This time, Xia Shian was the one surprised. She raised her eyebrows slightly and replied, “After Shen hour, there are no more meal times. It looks like no one comes to eat then.”
“No, no, what I mean is, don’t you serve late-night snacks?”
“What are late-night snacks?”
Seeing the puzzled look on Xia Shian’s face, Liang Yunqing was a bit dumbfounded. In this era, there were no late-night snacks?
“Late-night snacks are what you have after dinner, before going to sleep, when you gather with a few friends to drink some wine and eat some meat.”
“Well...”
Xia Shian had indeed never heard of such a thing. Generally, people stopped eating after dinner and might just have some light food if hungry.
But she also saw Liang Yunqing’s point.
If Xike Restaurant could promote this concept of late-night snacks, the profits would be more substantial. After all, beverages have always been the most lucrative items.
Afraid Xia Shian wouldn’t understand, Liang Yunqing stood up from her chair and laid out her idea.
“Master Xia, the new dishes I brought this time are meant to help you try starting late-night snack service. After Shen hour, you can close for a few hours, then reopen at Xu hour, only serving snacks that go well with alcohol and drinks. I will also introduce new dishes for these snacks later.”
“So you want me to start late-night service using your tofu as a trial?”
It was refreshing talking to a smart person. Liang Yunqing nodded vigorously and added, “If people don’t oppose this late-night dining habit, I will bring in barbecue dishes to expand the menu.”
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Master Xia was a quintessential businesswoman with sharp commercial insight; otherwise, she wouldn’t have emerged victorious among her brothers to inherit their father’s enterprise.
She knew that if this idea succeeded, it would undoubtedly make Xike Restaurant even more renowned.
Who ever thinks they have enough money?
A smile appeared on Xia Shian’s face. She didn’t like putting on airs in front of Liang Yunqing; after all, she knew exactly who she was dealing with.
Overly formal socializing would only push someone like Liang Yunqing away.
“This idea is quite novel, but what exactly is this barbecue you mentioned?”
Liang Yunqing’s doe-like eyes brightened. She instinctively swallowed and said, “Barbecue is the most delicious thing in the world. I can’t quite describe it, but if the late-night snack operation is feasible, I’ll come early to cook it for you.”
“All right, I’ll start trying the operation in the next few days.”
With Xia Shian’s answer, Liang Yunqing relaxed, but her mind was already calculating again. She slowly moved in front of Xia Shian and hesitated slightly.
“Master Xia, if the late-night snack business works, could I invest?”
“Invest? You mean cooperate with me to share the profits?”
Liang Yunqing smiled and nodded, then explained, “I’m not greedy. I only want to partner on the late-night snack business. Everything else will follow the terms in our previous contract. What do you think?”
Xia Shian rested her chin on her hand and studied Liang Yunqing’s earnest face carefully.
“With your brains, why do you insist on cooperating with me? Wouldn’t it be better to open your own store?”
Liang Yunqing had expected this question.
“First, I can’t handle everything on my own. I have to grow spices and manage business. I’m greedy and want to do it all, but I don’t have enough capital to hire others.
Second, if I open my own place, when will it ever become as famous as Xike Restaurant? Better to start by cooperating with you, leveraging Xike’s reputation. It will also make it easier for me to do other businesses in the future.”
Liang Yunqing was no fool. Having such a large chain company as backing would make her ventures much easier.
Xia Shian was taken aback by her straightforward answer and found herself momentarily speechless.
She knew Liang Yunqing wanted to ride on her influence, but she couldn’t deny that she desperately needed a partner like her.
“You don’t hide anything.”
“To sustain a long-term partnership, honesty is the most important thing,” Liang Yunqing said, her eyes clear.
Xia Shian made up her mind and called a maid to draft a contract for the late-night snack business cooperation.
However, they wouldn’t sign it today; they had to first test the market’s response to the late-night service. Liang Yunqing didn’t object. Being cautious in business was wise.
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Before long, another maid brought in the written marinade contract. Following the usual procedure, they signed it.
Liang Yunqing felt like the underdog—it’s really not easy to close a deal.
Thinking of this, she unconsciously adopted a modern habit. After signing, she stood up and extended her right hand toward Xia Shian with a standard client smile.
“Pleasure doing business with you, Master Xia.”
Xia Shian didn’t understand the sudden gesture at first, and even Liang Yunqing realized this pose might not be quite right.
But smiling cheerfully, Liang Yunqing extended her hand further and firmly grasped Xia Shian’s right hand, which hung at her side.
Their palms met and shook a few times in the air.
“Master Xia, this means a happy cooperation. A handshake symbolizes warmth and sincerity. I wish us prosperous business.”
No one refuses a friendly gesture, especially in business where everyone loves auspicious words.
What initially seemed like an awkward move suddenly felt appropriate to Xia Shian, who thought it was a nice gesture.
As their hands parted, she responded softly, “Pleasure doing business with you.”
Liang Yunqing double-checked the contract and turned to leave. At the doorway, Yang, the steward, who had been eavesdropping, immediately straightened up.
“Miss Liang, how did the negotiations go? I tried that tofu—it’s absolutely exquisite.”
“The business went alright. How about I treat you to a meal next time, Steward Yang?”
Liang Yunqing was already planning to invite a few people to sample the barbecue once the late-night trial passed.
Steward Yang had no reason to refuse and happily cupped his hands in agreement.
“Sounds great!”
They joked as they went downstairs. The restaurant was less crowded now, not as packed as before.
Yang hesitated before speaking, “By the way, Miss Liang, Master Xia didn’t ask me to tell you this.”
“What is it?”
Liang Yunqing stopped in her tracks.
“Miss Liang, several nearby restaurants have started imitating our dishes. Although they don’t have the recipes and can’t replicate the exact flavors, I’m still a bit worried.”