Chapter 437 - 336: Old Junk and Xu Meili

Chapter 437: Chapter 336: Old Junk and Xu Meili

"Even if he wants to renovate the restaurant into a public restroom, it’s none of our business. We just have to do our work according to his instructions. That’s all there is to it!"

Another young male employee, who had his hair parted seventy-thirty, said:

"Honestly, we’re just here to humor President Jun’s son-in-law. Plenty of rich kids in Jing City just fool around. We should just do our jobs and not overthink things."

None of them were particularly enthusiastic about the matter.

Never mind Jiang Liu losing ten million.

Even if he lost a few hundred million, President Jun would be fine with it.

It was just money to keep his son-in-law entertained. As long as the son-in-law was happy, that’s all that mattered.

They understood the situation perfectly.

Ren Qingqing forced a smile. "You have a point. When you put it that way, President Jun really is good to Boss Jiang."

"Of course he is."

An employee said, "Who in the company doesn’t know that President Jun dotes on his son-in-law day in and day out? No one else can say a single bad thing about him."

His tone was thick with jealousy.

’The young miss is so beautiful. How did she end up marrying Jiang Liu?’

’If I had married the young miss, I wouldn’t have to work another day in my life. It’d save me a thousand years of struggle!’

"All right, that’s enough. Let’s get going."

Ren Qingqing waved them over. They planned to visit the five pre-selected storefronts one by one.

The first location wasn’t satisfactory.

Neither was the second.

Not until the fifth location.

This shop was located at the intersection of Zhongyin Road and South Zhongyin Road.

It was another prime location.

Ren Qingqing was very pleased. She even had a subordinate do a lap of the area on a foldable electric bike to survey the surroundings.

"Excellent!"

"The foot traffic is solid. The place hasn’t had much work done on it before, so if we need to renovate, it should be quick."

"The location works too. It’s only 1.8 kilometers from Tongtong Restaurant, and you can cut straight through a side alley to get there."

Just then, Ren Qingqing let out a small "Huh?"

That’s when she noticed another eatery across the street—Yang’s Buns.

Their business, surprisingly, wasn’t bad.

Even from a distance, she could make out five or six occupied tables inside.

Ren Qingqing grew thoughtful.

Of course, she had no idea this was the shop opened by Jiang Liu’s ex-wife.

*

「Inside Yang’s on Zhongyin Road.」

This was one of Yang Yixue’s more profitable locations.

At this moment.

Yang Yixue was dressed in clean, beautiful designer clothes, her makeup exquisitely done. On the wooden table before her sat a new, blue leather handbag.

She studied her own lovely reflection in a hand mirror, and her mood brightened considerably.

Ever since the divorce, she had been paying more and more attention to her appearance.

Recently, she had used a few tricks to stabilize the revenue from her stores.

While the profits from her dozen or so shops weren’t huge...

...at least they were no longer operating at a loss.

’Looks like spending money on advertising was worth it after all.’

Yang Yixue opened Douyin. Her "favorites" were filled with videos from food bloggers reviewing her stores.

Unsurprisingly, they were all reviewing Yang’s Buns. Each blogger did their best to praise how delicious the food was, all while awkwardly trying to suppress their over-the-top reactions.

The acting was atrocious.

But they still got a lot of likes!

’Just you wait, Jiang Liu. Sooner or later, you’ll come begging me to take you back!’

*

"Sister Ren, are you looking at that shop across the street?"

"Mhm." Ren Qingqing nodded faintly.

The team member with the seventy-thirty haircut spoke up. "I looked into that place. It’s nothing special."

"Nothing special how? Be specific."

"Tsk, tsk." The team member with the seventy-thirty hair shook his head.

"It’s all for show. The owner must be desperate—she hired a ton of food influencers to promote the place, but business is still terrible. Probably can’t even make ends meet."

"What about the surrounding area?"

"It’s good. No problems there. There’s no shortage of wealthy clientele, and even more middle-class customers. Here’s the detailed analysis report, with photos."

Ren Qingqing took the report and photos, glanced them over, and thought for a moment. "Alright, let’s lock in this location."

She thought the spot was quite good.

Even though there was a competitor across the street...

’Hah!’

’A weakling that would shatter with a single blow.’

Ren Qingqing had a hundred ways to crush them.

For instance, she could use an overt strategy, like running a discount promotion, to simply bleed them dry.

When it came to a head-to-head fight, she wasn’t afraid in the slightest.

After all...

...her own President Jiang had the entire Huaxia Pharmaceutical backing him.

Even if they resorted to strong-arm tactics and bullied them out in the open,

what could they do about it?

’Want to fight back?’

’Fine. Put up a hundred million, and I’ll play your game.’

After settling on the location,

Ren Qingqing and her team selected two more locations.

They sat down together to discuss the proposed plan.

Ren Qingqing sent the information on the selected locations to Jiang Liu.

No matter how good she thought they were.

*

「8:03 PM.」

All the food in Jiang Liu’s restaurant was sold out.

They had opened half an hour late today.

But thankfully, the customers didn’t rush him, waiting patiently instead.

"Little Boss Jiang, I’m taking a bit of chili oil home, all right?"

Xia Changzhi swaggered over, holding a small disposable dish and beaming.

Jiang Liu was exasperated. "Uncle Xia, who taught you to ask for forgiveness instead of permission? You’ve already scooped it out, you expect me to tell you to put it back now?"

"Hahaha, I can’t help it, I just love your chili oil! Anyway, I’m off to buy some steamed buns to eat with this!"

"All right."

Jiang Liu glanced at the basin for the chili oil. It had been scraped completely clean.

’Good thing I don’t put a jar on every table,’ he thought, ’or the uncles and aunts would walk off with the jars themselves.’

Jiang Liu shook his head.

’Looks like I’ll need to make more chili oil tomorrow,’ he mused. ’It’s not like it’s expensive. If the customers love it, I should make more for them.’

It was a matter of empathy.

His customers were good to him, too—aside from constantly supervising him and nagging him to get back to work.

The shop had only been quiet for a minute...

...when it erupted into noise again.

Jiang Tongtong watched the commotion from the side, thoroughly excited.

Uncle Liu roared, "Xu Meili, have you no shame? You think Xiao Jiang’s chili oil is free?"

"You took so much at once, what’s left for anyone else? Couldn’t you have at least left me some to take home?"

Aunt Xu retorted, full of self-righteousness:

"Who are you to tell me what to do? Huh? I like it, and it’s not like Boss Jiang belongs to you! Besides, I help Boss Jiang clean up all the time. What’s wrong with me having a little extra of our dear Xiao Jiang’s chili?"

"You shameless old hag!"

"Who are you calling junk, you old wreck!?" Aunt Xu hoisted a stool.

Uncle Liu jumped in fright, his bravado instantly crushed.

He glanced over and saw Jiang Liu watching from the side, and he unconsciously straightened his spine.

"Hmph! I don’t care! Give me some of the chili oil you packed to-go. I’m not leaving without it!"

"In your dreams! You should’ve come earlier! I got this chili oil fair and square. If you’re so capable, why don’t you ask Xiao Jiang to make a special batch just for you?"

"Don’t have the guts?"

"Cat got your tongue? You’re just an old wreck who’s all talk!"

Aunt Xu snarled, looking utterly ferocious.

"I’m not stooping to your level, you old shrew."

Uncle Liu muttered angrily, then lowered his head and started wiping a table.

He might be angry, but he couldn’t forget his duty to dote on Boss Jiang. Even if he were in his coffin, he’d have to climb out to come back and wipe the tables!

Aunt Xu strode away like a proud old peacock.

Uncle Liu sighed.

His wife wasn’t well enough to come wait in line, but being from the Sichuan and Chongqing region, she had a particular love for spicy food.

She had tried Boss Jiang’s chili oil just once and had been craving it ever since.

"Grandpa Liu, don’t be sad. How about Tongtong gets you some chili oil?"