As it was not yet mealtime, there were no customers at this hour, only a few scattered staff members moving about.
Apart from Murong Yanran, Liu Zijun, and their two shop assistants, everyone else was out and about, making their way through the underground commercial shops with stacks of promotional leaflets.
The opening of Yipin Stewed Soup also attracted the attention of the bosses or supervisors of the major shops on the top floor, who all arranged for their staff to casually wander over to gather intelligence. When they learned it was merely offering low-end set meals, they breathed a sigh of relief. Their class was different, so there was no need to worry.
Li Haochen's promotions also played a significant role. Even before mealtime, many shop employees had already followed Yipin Stewed Soup's official account. It was understandable, as all the dining options in Binhai Plaza catered to a more refined palate. For those earning only around four thousand yuan, Yipin Stewed Soup was undoubtedly an excellent choice.
As the Chinese people say, rice and soup have been an integral part of their dietary culture for thousands of years, embodying the wisdom of their ancestors in health and wellness. How could that possibly compare to Western fast food, which featured chunks of frozen, unknown beef mixed with bread?
As the mealtime approached, more customers gradually arrived on the top floor. Judging by their attire, they were likely from nearby companies or organizations with higher incomes.
During this time, some well-dressed individuals passing by paused to observe, but quickly moved on. Perhaps they felt that a 36 yuan set meal was not in keeping with their status.
The mealtime arrived, and the dining floor was already bustling with people, in twos and threes, or alone. Yipin Stewed Soup welcomed its first batch of customers. Judging by their uniforms, they were service staff from the children's play center on the third floor. There were quite a few of them, seven in total, occupying a quarter of the shop.
“Hello, what can I get for you?” Murong Yanran, not one to be pampered, acted as the order-taker.
Among this group were three young men. Upon seeing Murong Yanran's stunning beauty, they immediately sat up straight. Their colleagues next to them chuckled and teased, their camaraderie evident, creating a joyful atmosphere.
“Yes, please give us 3 servings of Meicai Kourou, 2 servings of Winter Mushroom Steamed Chicken, and 2 servings of Cured Meat. All as set meals, please!”
“Certainly, please wait a moment!”
The food was served quickly, as the soups were already stewed and the rice steamed. All that was needed was to quickly prepare a side of blanched greens. Such a fast serving speed also earned Yipin Stewed Soup a bit more approval from the group.
When they lifted the lids of the coconut shells, a rich aroma erupted, making one’s mouth water.
“Wow, this soup is delicious!”
“Yes, this is the first time I’ve had such delicious coconut soup.”
“And the ingredients are generous, thumbs up!”
“The steamed rice portion is also ample, and the taste is good. 36 yuan for a set meal, it’s really worth it.”
The rich and uniquely fragrant soup soon wafted out of the shop. Passing customers outside were already captivated by the scent. The tables were gradually filling up. Li Haochen and the others, after distributing flyers, returned to the shop and were surprised to see it packed with customers.
Due to the limited space, Li Haochen arranged for Chen He and the others to eat at the neighboring Xiangxiang Lou, while he himself went back to help manage the shop.
Customers came and went, and those who had tasted the coconut soup unanimously praised it, leaving rave reviews. Many customers also posted on their social media, discovering quite a few potential customers.
The group was busy as bees, tired but happy. Murong Yanran and Liu Zijun couldn't stop smiling. The two female employees were even happier than Murong Yanran and the others. With the shop doing such good business, they wouldn't have to switch jobs. After all, who would want to toil and moil if they could have stability?
The busiest period had passed, and the group finally had a chance to take a breath and have a drink of water.
“Everyone has worked hard, let’s eat first.”
“Yanran, how many portions did we sell?” Liu Zijun asked, eating her meal but her mind constantly drifting to the sales figures.
“196 portions,” Murong Yanran remembered very clearly. Seeing this result, her smile couldn't help but widen.
Liu Zijun also smiled, very happy. This was the happiest she had been since returning from America. She clenched her fist and said, “The past me is dead. The me of today will definitely live well.”
“Sister Ran, Sister Jun, we don't have much coconut left, and we’re also running low on the black-feathered chickens for the soup.”
“Oh… so soon?”
“We didn’t expect business to be this good, so we weren’t very well prepared. Let’s go and restock now,” Murong Yanran said.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already asked Xiao Nian and the others to bring another 500 young coconuts. For the black-feathered chickens, just ask the boss to send them over,” Li Haochen said.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t leave their phone number…” Li Haochen saw Murong Yanran and the other woman sticking out their tongues in embarrassment and knew they had forgotten.
“Uh… okay, I’ll go to the market.”
“Thank you!”
“Do we need to say thank you?” Li Haochen smiled, quickly gulped down a few mouthfuls, and then went to Xiangxiang Lou to pay the bill. “Are you all full? You guys can go back to the coconut shop later. Xiao Nian and the others will probably be busy in the afternoon. Thank you all so much today.”
“Third Brother, you’re being too formal.”
“Yes, Third Brother, why be so formal?”
“Exactly, treat us to a few more meals at five-star restaurants… Ow, honey, you’re twisting my arm again.” Liang Minfeng looked pitifully at Zhang Guifang and pretended to cry in a slightly wronged manner.
“Your mouth runs too much.”
“Hahaha, alright, alright. In a few days, my boardwalk will be repaired. We'll all gather then, and I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised!”
After chatting with them for a while, he rode his electric scooter to the market and found the chicken stall mentioned by Liu Zijun. However, when he got there, it was already closed. Fortunately, they had left a phone number.
He dialed it, and a woman with a pleasant voice answered. She sounded a bit like Sister Ling.
“Hello, who are you looking for?”
“Oh, hello, I’d like to buy some black-feathered chickens. I went to your stall, but it was already closed.”
“I’m sorry, we only open at 4:30 PM.”
“Is that so… Can you open now? I need them urgently.”
“How many do you need?” the boss hesitated for a moment before asking.
“About forty or fifty.”
“Wh… What?”
The female boss jumped up and slapped a dead pig on the bed. “You only know how to sleep all day! Hurry up and get up. Boss, please wait a moment, we’re coming over now. We’ll be there soon.”
Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long. About ten minutes later, the female boss arrived with a rather honest-looking man. “Boss, are you looking for black-feathered chickens?”
Li Haochen smiled and nodded. He went in and checked the condition of the live chickens. Seeing no issues, they talked things over, paid a deposit of five hundred yuan, and left their contact information. “Boss, please deliver the black-feathered chickens to the Yipin Stewed Soup shop at Binhai Plaza. We’ll settle the remaining balance then. Make sure the chickens are fresh. We can cooperate long-term in the future. We’ll likely need a large quantity every day.”
“Don’t worry, Boss Li, they’ll be delivered fresh after slaughter.”