Chapter 199: A Smooth Grand Opening

Li Xiao gave the shop a quick look-over and nodded in satisfaction. Just as Lai Chunjiao had said yesterday, the preparations were impeccable.

All the pieces were in place; they were just waiting for the opportune moment.

During a lull in the preparations, Li Xiao noticed that many of the kids looked nervous.

Since he had nothing else to do, he took on the role of a caring older brother, going to each of them to offer some encouragement.

Time flew by, and soon it was 10 a.m., time for the grand opening.

The opening ceremony Lai Chunjiao had arranged wasn’t overly extravagant. Two colorful lion dancers performed energetically at the shop’s entrance, and amidst the sound of firecrackers, Li Xiao, Lai Chunjiao, and the two store managers held a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Thanks to advance publicity, coupons distributed in the area days before, and, most importantly, the shop’s prime location at a major intersection on the mall’s first floor—a key hub for foot traffic—a large crowd had already gathered to form a line at the entrance as soon as the milk tea shop opened.

Seeing the long line that had already formed, Lai Chunjiao didn’t look flustered at all.

Clearly, she had anticipated various scenarios and prepared contingency plans before the opening.

Several retractable stanchions were brought out and arranged in an S-shaped queue in front of the milk tea shop.

This setup allowed the waiting crowd to form an orderly line within a minimal amount of space.

The pressure from the crowd didn’t fall directly on the kids.

Orders were methodically assigned to different kids.

A few regular employees were positioned among them to coordinate and direct the workflow.

The line didn’t continue to grow because, after a short adjustment period, the speed of drink preparation quickly picked up.

Li Xiao didn’t intervene. Instead, he watched quietly from a distance as Lai Chunjiao and the two store managers bustled about inside the shop.

He was very clear about his role. ‘I’m the owner, not a manager, and certainly not a regular employee.’

‘If a single small franchise location requires me, the behind-the-scenes owner, to get my hands dirty, then this whole “chain” concept is meaningless.’

To handle the grand opening, this new branch had already brought over some staff from the original store.

‘If things still don’t run smoothly even with their help, it just proves that the process itself isn’t optimized or refined enough.’

‘If a problem really does arise, what’s needed isn’t for me to step in and help personally. It’s for Lai Chunjiao and the two managers to figure out exactly where the issue lies and how to optimize it going forward.’

But fortunately, the situation he was worried about never materialized.

Although the line peaked at seventy or eighty people, the speed of drink preparation inside was still quite fast.

While the kids’ work efficiency couldn’t match that of an average person, their numbers made up for it.

One kid might not work as fast as a regular person, but the combined speed of two, or even three, kids working together was definitely faster.

Moreover, the Xihan’er Milk Tea Shop hadn’t adopted the bad habits of many other milk tea shops, like intentionally delaying orders to make customers wait in line and create the illusion of being wildly popular. As a result, queuing customers didn’t have to wait too long to get their desired drinks.

He also took the time to conduct a small sample survey and found that most customers who had tried the drinks were quite satisfied with their flavor and texture.

After observing for a good while, Li Xiao was very satisfied with the new store’s operation. The situation was even better than the best-case scenario he had envisioned.

He could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

‘The smooth operation of this second store will serve as a crucial demonstration for future franchising.’

‘As long as this location runs without any issues for a while, it means future stores can follow this same model for continuous expansion.’

Li Xiao made another round before returning to the store, where he found Lai Chunjiao organizing work assignments.

“I’m very pleased with how the shop is doing today.”

“We need to get the training center set up as soon as possible. I heard from the Wenchu People that many families are eager for their children to be assigned to work soon.”

“That’s not an unreasonable request, and we should accommodate them as much as possible.”

Seeing her boss so pleased, a smile spread across Lai Chunjiao’s face.

“Understood. The contract for the training venue has been signed, as has the renovation contract. The workers will be heading over in the next couple of days to do some simple renovations and install the equipment.”

“Barring any unexpected delays, it should be fully operational in about two weeks.”

Li Xiao was happy to hear it would be ready so soon, but he immediately thought of a potential problem.

With such a short turnaround, the chemical fumes from the renovation might not have enough time to completely dissipate.

He immediately reminded her:

“Make sure to use the best materials for the renovation.”

“After all, low-quality paints contain a lot of harmful substances that won’t break down in just ten days or a couple of weeks.”

“I don’t want to hear about our future trainees getting sick and hospitalized from inhaling a bunch of fumes.”

Lai Chunjiao nodded in understanding.

“Don’t worry, Boss. I’ve already emphasized this point.”

“We’ve chosen eco-friendly materials. Even though they cost 25% more than standard renovation materials, they offer better protection for the kids’ health.

“We’ll also install ventilation systems and air purifiers to ensure the indoor air quality.”

Li Xiao:

“Money isn’t an issue. As long as it helps the milk tea shop develop better, you can always request the funds from me.”

Hearing Lai Chunjiao’s response, Li Xiao felt increasingly satisfied with his choice of manager.

‘Female managers might not be as decisive or ruthless in their decision-making as men.’

‘But that’s precisely what makes her a perfect fit to manage the Xihan’er Milk Tea Shop. He didn’t need the Xihan’er Milk Tea Shop to make a huge profit.’

‘A more meticulous and empathetic female manager was actually the better choice for the Xihan’er Milk Tea Shop.’

‘These special kids needed more than just a job opportunity; they needed care, understanding, and the chance to grow and find self-fulfillment through their work.’

After confirming that everything was running smoothly, Li Xiao prepared to leave the milk tea shop.

At the entrance, he turned back to look at the busy yet orderly scene inside the shop, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.

He knew this wasn’t just a successful business venture; it was an exercise in social responsibility and humanitarian care.

‘If this model can be successfully scaled up, then it’s not just these kids, but many more people like them who need help, who will receive more attention and opportunities.’

Li Xiao thought to himself, and filled with this hope and vision for the future, he got into his sports car.

Besides checking on the milk tea shop’s opening, he had another matter to attend to today.