Chapter 40: Win-Win – “Our Business Will Only Grow Bigger”
Madam Tian choked on the seaweed floss cake and began coughing uncontrollably.
“Cough, cough, cough!” she spluttered as Yihuan hurriedly poured her a cup of tea. Handing it to her, she said soothingly, “Madam Tian, don’t get so worked up—I haven’t even told you what it’s about yet…”
Madam Tian’s face flushed red as she snapped, “What good could it be? You’re probably just here to make more money off my Qianjiao Pavilion!”
She was envious of how much Yihuan had profited by selling desserts in Qianjiao Pavilion.
Yihuan’s expression remained calm. “Madam Tian, this time, you’re mistaken. I heard that Qianjiao Pavilion is planning a courtesan competition, and I wondered if there might be an opportunity for us to collaborate.”
“Collaborate?” Madam Tian scoffed, her skepticism evident. “What kind of collaboration could we possibly have?”
With unwavering composure, Yihuan asked, “Madam Tian, may I ask how this courtesan competition differs from the previous one?”
Caught off guard, Madam Tian hesitated. “How could it be different? It’s the same old performances, followed by the young gentlemen casting their votes, and finally announcing who’s number one…”
Yihuan nodded knowingly. “And what about the participants? Are there any new faces this time?”
Madam Tian frowned. “Not really. It’s the same girls—only the acts are different.”
Smiling, Yihuan said, “Madam Tian, forgive my bluntness, but without new performers or novel concepts, how can you be certain that the gentlemen will still be interested in attending?”
Madam Tian’s expression faltered.
She had thought about this herself.
Last year, she had hosted three courtesan competitions and raked in a significant amount of silver. However, nearby establishments had started copying the format, eager to compete.
To stay ahead, she had hastily organized this year’s competition. But without time to cultivate fresh talent or produce standout acts, her anxiety about losing her edge had grown.
Yihuan’s pointed question struck a nerve, making Madam Tian’s mood sour. “And what does that have to do with you!?” she asked irritably.
With a gentle tone, Yihuan replied, “Madam Tian, I mean no offense. As you know, most of my business comes from Qianjiao Pavilion, so of course, I want to see the Pavilion thrive. Regarding this courtesan competition, I have an idea. If you think it’s interesting, we can collaborate. If not, you’re free to reject it. The decision is entirely yours. What do you think?”
Madam Tian’s temper eased slightly at this response. “Fine, let’s hear it,” she said grudgingly.
Yihuan smiled. “There may not be time to train new performers or revamp the program, and the cost of setting up for the courtesan competition is undoubtedly high. But you can offset those costs and even increase your profits through other means.”
Madam Tian perked up at the mention of profits.
The competition used a ticketing system, with guests purchasing tickets to attend. However, some stingy customers would buy tickets but refuse to spend on drinks or voting for the performers. Worse, they’d occupy seats that could have been sold to wealthier customers.
Thinking about these freeloaders, Madam Tian felt a pang of frustration.
“How exactly do we earn more?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Yihuan’s smile widened. “It’s simple: increase the per-customer revenue. In other words, raise ticket prices.”
Madam Tian frowned, her skepticism returning. “I’ve thought about that, but if ticket prices go up without any significant improvements to the show, it could anger the guests. Tickets already cost one tael of silver—it’s not cheap.”
“True,” Yihuan agreed. “But in business, nothing is inherently expensive or cheap. The key is whether it feels worth it.” She paused before continuing, “What if you raised the ticket price to two taels but included a complimentary snack for every guest? That way, it wouldn’t seem like just a price hike—it would be perceived as an upgraded service.”
Madam Tian’s eyes gleamed with understanding. “That could help keep the stingiest guests out… But doesn’t offering snacks mean higher costs?”
Yihuan gave her a knowing wink. “I’ll provide the snacks.”
Madam Tian’s expression darkened. “So you want to profit off my courtesan competition?”
Yihuan quickly explained, “Please don’t misunderstand, Madam Tian. If you raise the ticket price to two taels, you’d be earning an extra 100 copper coins per guest. My snacks would only cost about 20 copper coins each, leaving you with a profit of 80 copper coins per ticket.”
Madam Tian’s mind raced as she calculated the potential earnings.
Yihuan added, “Rest assured, the snacks will include a high-quality drink and a sweet treat that won’t tarnish Qianjiao Pavilion’s reputation. In fact, it’ll enhance the experience while giving my shop some publicity.”
Madam Tian did the math: an additional 80 copper coins per guest. With 100 guests, that would be 80 taels of silver!
[T/N :- According to my research 1 tael of silver = 1000 wens or coins, but the according to the calculation I think the author used 1 tael of silver = 100 wens or coins for easier calculation. ]
Her heart raced with excitement, and she struggled to suppress a grin.
Madam Tian was well aware that Yihuan’s proposal was a solid plan, but she didn’t want to appear overly eager in front of her.
Eyeing Yihuan suspiciously, she asked, “Why would you go through so much effort to make snacks and not earn a profit? There must be some catch!”
Yihuan chuckled lightly. “Madam Tian, you’re so intelligent—how could I dare play any tricks on your turf? Besides, I haven’t finished outlining my conditions.”
Madam Tian steadied herself and said, “Then let’s hear them.”
Yihuan explained, “I’d like to hang a banner across Qianjiao Pavilion during the courtesan competition.”
“A banner?” Madam Tian asked, puzzled. “What’s that for?”
“It’s just for publicity, nothing more,” Yihuan replied with a casual shrug. “Madam Tian, there’s no need to worry.”
Madam Tian mulled it over. Since it didn’t cost her anything, she agreed.
Yihuan added, “There’s one more condition. During the parade for the newly crowned courtesan, I’d like to place some items on the flower carriage.”
Leaning in, she whispered her idea into Madam Tian’s ear.
Madam Tian hesitated for a moment—this approach was something she hadn’t considered before.
Seeing her uncertainty, Yihuan tugged gently at Madam Tian’s sleeve and said, “Madam Tian, Qianjiao Pavilion is the most prestigious establishment on Tianshui Alley. You should lead the way by setting a new standard, shouldn’t you?”
Madam Tian, her ego sufficiently stroked, slammed the table decisively. “Fine! Let those country bumpkins see what a truly refined courtesan parade looks like!”
With that, the two struck a deal. Yihuan thanked her profusely and left Qianjiao Pavilion.
Madam Tian, in high spirits, happily resumed eating her floss cakes. Today was truly a good day!
*****
As Yihuan walked out of Qianjiao Pavilion, her mood was equally buoyant.
Since the opening of Shengjing Dessert Shop, she had gradually built her business—from serving individual customers to securing a significant client like Qianjiao Pavilion. The journey had been anything but easy.
Still, relying too heavily on a single major client was risky. If Qianjiao Pavilion ever cut ties with her, her business could collapse overnight.
Thus, Yihuan had been strategizing ways to extend her reach to other establishments on Tianshui Alley.
Lost in thought, she found herself back on Changming Street.
*****
At the entrance of the Jinxiu Restaurant, Manager Luo was basking in the sun.
“Good morning, Miss Yihuan!” he called out cheerfully. Ever since she had shared her sour plum soup recipe with him, his attitude toward her had been nothing but warm.
“Good morning, Manager Luo. Not going out for supplies today?” Yihuan asked with a smile.
Shaking his head, Manager Luo replied, “I heard pork prices are about to go up, so I stocked up on ingredients a few days ago. Now I can relax for a bit.”
“Why are pork prices increasing?” Yihuan asked, puzzled.
Manager Luo fanned himself leisurely and explained, “It’s summer soon, and the heavy rains in Lingdong caused flooding. Many farms were washed away, and there’s even been talk of a swine fever outbreak. People are avoiding pork.”
Yihuan nodded in understanding. “That must be tough on the farmers.”
Manager Luo sighed. “Indeed it is!”
But as he spoke about costs, a spark of inspiration lit up in Yihuan’s mind.
“Manager Luo, I just remembered something. I’ll be off now!” she exclaimed before dashing off, leaving a bewildered Manager Luo behind.
“Young people these days—so full of energy,” he muttered, shaking his head.
*****
Back at the dessert shop, Yihuan immediately grabbed the ledger and began poring over the records.
She meticulously reviewed the past month’s purchases, identifying the most-used ingredients.
Flour, sugar, and milk were at the top of the list. Of these, flour and sugar had stable prices and long shelf lives, making them ideal for bulk buying.
After a moment of contemplation, she called for Ah-miao.
“Miss, what’s the matter?” Ah-miao asked, wiping her hands. She had been busy preparing desserts for the next day’s sales.
Yihuan asked, “Ah-miao, based on our current usage, do you think it’s feasible to stock up on more flour and sugar?”
Puzzled, Ah-miao replied, “Why stock up? Our shop is so small—where would we store it all?”
Yihuan smiled. “The storage issue can be resolved. We might be taking on a big order soon, so I want to combine our regular stock with this order to buy in bulk. Altogether, it could be around 200 jin (about 100 kg). That should give us enough leverage to negotiate a discount with Qingmu Zhai.”
Previously, they had only purchased small quantities of supplies to avoid tying up too much capital. But with business stabilizing and her ambitious plans in motion, Yihuan felt it was time to prepare for greater demand.
“Two hundred jin of flour and sugar?” Ah-miao gasped.
“That’s right,” Yihuan said, her confidence shining. “Our business will only get bigger and better.”
Her enthusiasm was infectious. Ah-miao’s eyes lit up. “Miss, no time to waste—let’s head to Qingmu Zhai right away!”
“Let’s do it!” Yihuan agreed, her excitement matching Ah-miao’s.
She grabbed the ledger and some silver and strode toward the door.
But just as she stepped outside, she collided with a warm, solid figure.
Startled, she looked up to see a man in crimson robes, his eyes dark and piercing, and his lips curved in a faint smile.
Liu Hexiao raised an eyebrow. “Where are you off to in such a rush?”
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