Chapter 176 Authentic Yunnan Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles from Northeast China
I was just haggling fiercely with the Princess's subordinates?
Shen Yulou saw that although Boss Wang's business wasn't great, he was an honest person.
His shop was also managed in an orderly fashion, which sparked a desire in him to cherish talent.
The main reason was that he couldn't personally manage such a restaurant, so it was safest to let Boss Wang run it.
That's why he revealed the Princess's identity to pressure him a bit, and also to let him know he had found a powerful backer.
Transitioning from a boss to an employee, he wouldn't have to worry about whether the business would lose money.
Shen Yulou offered Boss Wang a very generous compensation package; his monthly salary would be higher than his previous restaurant income.
Moreover, if the shop was managed well, he would also receive an additional commission.
With these conditions and the Princess's identity, he naturally had no reason to refuse.
Boss Wang asked, "May I ask who you are, Sir?"
"This Official is Shen Yulou."
Boss Wang's expression changed drastically.
"You are Lord Shen of the Imperial Academy?"
"Oh? You've heard of me too?"
Shen Yulou was a bit surprised, not expecting his reputation to be so widespread.
Boss Wang said somewhat sheepishly.
"I heard it from the boss of the Juewei Tower next door. He said you often eat there and was showing off about it last time..."
Shen Yulou:... He had indeed been to Juewei Tower a few times. He didn't expect that boss to use him for publicity. He'd have to extort some advertising fees from him later!
"Boss Wang, from now on, our shop will sell rice noodles."
Boss Wang had just gotten up, and upon hearing this, he almost knelt down again.
He shook his head repeatedly: "Sir, Princess!
That stuff, rice noodles, is too low-end!
This area, where all the princes and nobles live, how would they eat this?
Isn't this just waiting to lose money?"
Doing business in this area was all about high-end luxury.
The reason Swallow Wing Tower declined was because it couldn't compare to the high-class Juewei Tower.
All the wealthy people went to Juewei Tower.
Entertaining guests in such a place gave them face.
Now they were going to open a rice noodle shop, wouldn't that be even more low-end?
Shen Yulou just smiled: "Do as I say. If it loses money, it's on me."
Boss Wang had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree, but he muttered to himself.
It's over, I've run into two noble people who don't understand the ways of the world. This shop will probably close in less than three days... A few days later, under the busy efforts of Boss Wang and a group of craftsmen, the restaurant was completely renovated.
The plaque was also replaced, with a line of large characters written in a flamboyant style.
[Authentic Northeastern Yunnan Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles]
The name, no matter how you looked at it, seemed out of place.
On opening day, Boss Chu from the Juewei Tower next door stood with his arms crossed.
He strolled to the entrance and sarcastically mocked.
"Yo, Old Wang, not bad! You're not running a good restaurant, you've switched to selling rice noodles? You're deliberately lowering the standard of our street!"
Boss Wang now had someone backing him, so his back was straighter, and he retorted with a puffed chest.
"What do you know! I have a backer now!"
Boss Chu scoffed: "Comparing backers? My backer is Minister Jin of the Ministry of Works! You're comparing yourself to me?"
This group of businessmen, from ancient times to the present, all have one flaw.
They like to boast about their connections with officials.
So what they say isn't necessarily true; there's a lot of exaggeration involved.
The two bickered for a few sentences, and then customers started arriving at Juewei Tower in an endless stream; the carriages outside were almost overflowing.
In contrast, the rice noodle shop was deserted, not a single soul in sight.
A few passing commoners curiously peeked in, wanting to try a bowl.
But they were pulled back by their companions: "Don't go! Look, it's next to Juewei Tower, won't those rice noodles be sold at an exorbitant price? Can't afford it, can't afford it!"
The commoners didn't dare to enter, and the wealthy looked down on it.
Now, cross-bridge rice noodles were in such an awkward position.
Boss Wang appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, he was extremely anxious.
Although he was receiving a fixed salary from the Princess, if things continued like this, the shop would probably not last for more than a few days.
Lord Shen told him not to worry, but how could he not worry?
He also didn't know what brilliant move Lord Shen had up his sleeve... Inside the Imperial Academy.
Shen Yulou looked at the group of clamoring little rascals below, a satisfied smile on his face.
A month of devilish training was about to yield results.
"Families! One month is up! Tomorrow, you have a day off!"
The children instantly erupted in excitement.
But what they were looking forward to wasn't going home to play, but going home to... achieve performance!
"You can have a day off, but there's a task!"
Shen Yulou cleared his throat, "Your task today is to take your fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers, all your aunts and uncles, to the Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles next to Juewei Tower and have a good meal!"
"While eating, you must passionately tell them the moving love story of Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles!"
"Whoever brings the most relatives and friends, their performance will be first! After you come back, you can choose a luxurious single room, a beautiful maid, class monitor, or squad leader, whatever you want!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the eyes of the children below turned red, each one rubbing their fists, like wolf cubs preparing for battle.
"Class dismissed!"
With Shen Yulou's command, he personally opened the heavy gate of the Imperial Academy.
Outside, it was already a sea of people, all eager parents.
"My son!"
General Zhang's wife, Madam Wang, embraced Zhang Tianbao, who had lost a bit of weight but was full of energy, and tears immediately streamed down her face.
However, Zhang Tianbao pushed his mother away and said with a serious expression.
"Mother, do not be boisterous. My teacher said to remain calm even if Mount Tai collapses before you."
After speaking, he immediately began to recite the Analects, so fluently that it stunned the surrounding group of noblewomen.
In a corner of the crowd, a woman wearing a veiled hat, none other than Li Deguang's wife, Madam Hu, was quietly taking her grandson away, afraid of being recognized, as inconspicuous as an extra.
...Li Manor.
Li Deguang held his precious grandson, asking about his well-being and testing his homework.
As a result, the grandson not only answered fluently but even used Shen Yulou's "KPI assessment method" to propose a complete plan for how his grandfather should manage the servants in the manor, leaving Li Deguang dumbfounded.
"Good! Good grandson!"
Li Deguang was so excited that old tears streamed down his face, "Tell me, what reward do you want? Grandpa will grant you anything!"
The grandson's eyes lit up, and he loudly said, "Grandpa, I want to take the whole family to eat the Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles next to Juewei Tower!"
Li Deguang: "..."
The whole family was stunned. Going to Juewei Tower was one thing, but eating rice noodles?
Isn't that something commoners eat?
The grandson, however, was exceptionally persistent, saying that this was an assignment given by his teacher and had to be completed.
Hearing it was an assignment, Li Deguang was helpless. He didn't know what Shen Yulou was up to.
"Let your mother and father take you!"
"I won't go."
Thinking of the matter Madam Hu had previously agreed to with Shen Yulou, Li Deguang had an ominous premonition