Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 120: Chapter 109: Grand Opening of New Store, Happy Valentine’s Day

Bai Yixian’s condition was worrying, but by the time Luo Xiying had delivered the accessories, he had rebounded to normal, except for still looking a bit pale.

”Is this a fleeting improvement before the end?” Luo Shufan quietly asked Bai Yizhu.

”Yesterday my brother’s boss visited him and brought many gifts. After whatever he said, my brother started eating normally, and even complained about me feeding him instant noodles for several days...” Bai Yizhu, watching his brother talk to Luo Qianqian, appeared somewhat uncertain.

”Is this lovesickness or something?” Luo Qianqian, seeing Bai Yixian looking much better, finally relaxed and asked softly.

”You’re the one with lovesickness!” Bai Yixian snapped embarrassedly, grabbing a cushion and throwing it at Luo Qianqian. ”Stop reminding me. I had misunderstood before, which left me distraught for so many days. I only saw your message on my phone yesterday.”

”Seeing how pitiful you look, I won’t ask you for a red packet. It’s fine as long as you are well,” Luo Qianqian said, not revealing the truth but instead softly negotiating, ”What do you think we should do with that remaining shop space?”

”I was thinking about opening a flower shop, but having one near the train station doesn’t seem like a good idea, maybe selling local specialties would be better.” Bai Yixian really didn’t want to mention that he had two other shops under his name that he didn’t know what to do with.

”I’m thinking about doing something in food services, like a rotating mini hot pot or something spicy and numbing, cheap and quick,” Luo Qianqian thought about the popular mini hot pots from her past life.

”What is that? Explain it to me?” Luo Qianqian began explaining to Bai Yixian.

On the other side, Bai Yizhu and Luo Shufan were discussing the concept of a fleeting improvement before the end with a homework book, while He Wenyu was in the kitchen making something delicious.

”It smells so good.” Bai Yizhu commented first.

”Xiao Yu’s cooking skills are getting better and better,” Luo Qianqian said, inhaling deeply and admiring the aroma filling the air.

Bai Yixian was completely stunned by Luo Qianqian’s idea, it was convenient, quick, and allowed for personal selection; aside from potentially undercharging for a few skewers, it was overall a guaranteed profit.

While sending messages, he pondered whether to file for a patent.

”Save some for me!!!” By the time Bai Yixian finished his tasks and realized what was happening, there was only a little soup and rice left. He could only sob while savoring the rice soaked in soup. Satisfied, he rubbed his stomach, ”One should marry someone like Xiao Yu, my stomach says so.”

”Go away, she’s my family’s,” Luo Qianqian uncompromisingly protected her close friend, unwilling to let others take advantage of her.

”How much do you sell for?” Bai Yizhu, rubbing his distended belly, asked.

”Hey, hey, hey, keep talking and you won’t get to eat it in the future,” He Wenyu warned, poking Bai Yizhu’s belly with his index finger. ”Really, you’ve eaten yourself into a fatty in one go.”

”Stop nagging me!!! I might throw it all up!!!” Bai Yizhu hurriedly moved his cumbersome belly away.

”You’ve stuffed yourself to this point, are you a pig?” Luo Qianqian looked at Bai Yizhu with disdain.

Bai Yixian felt even more disdainful. He had barely eaten a few bites, just some vegetable soup, while his brother had almost eaten himself sick. How could life be so unfair?

”The shop opens tomorrow, should we send a flower basket?” Luo Qianqian, holding some change, shook it then put it away, ”Never mind that, let’s buy some pig feet and chicken claws to take to Mom’s place instead, in case we run out.”

”Have you not been sleeping well these past few days?” Luo Shufan looked at his sister, bewildered. ”Why are you still fussing? Didn’t we already secure a supplier? We’re even paying more.”

”When did you say that?” Luo Qianqian shook her head, indicating she had no recollection.

Luo Shufan, resting his chin in his hand, thought for a while and finally said confidently, ”When you and Xiao Yu went to Grandpa Zhang’s house to play with the dogs.”

”...”

The grand opening day was bustling, as many chose to start their businesses on the seventh or eighth day of the lunar month, and the sound of firecrackers never ceased in the streets. However, as the first two stores to open in the new building, they still attracted customers, especially since it was also Valentine’s Day.

Since it was just the morning, ”Fragrance Comes” had only a few customers, but ”Luo Shenyao” was continuously busy. Hardly anyone walked out without making a purchase, mainly because the items inside were stylish yet affordable, especially the Patchwork Bear, which everyone seemed to have in hand—a rarity elsewhere. Luo’s mom was grinning ear to ear.

”Mom,” Luo Qianqian and the other two awoke a bit late but quickly came over to help with everything.

Luo Qianqian, meanwhile, was holding a small notebook asking for improvement suggestions and ideas. Soon, her notebook was filled with two full pages; there were hopes for a membership system with discounts, hopes for a reward on purchases of a certain amount, and even hopes for money-off deals. These ideas were not far from what Luo Qianqian had originally imagined, but she mentioned they would be introduced later.

However, several suggestions were quite good; one mentioned that since it was a craft store, why not have DIY tools available, another suggested adding more varieties of handmade plush keychains, and another recommended crafting backpacks.

Luo Qianqian couldn’t help but exclaim, ”Genius! The promotional methods from my past lifetime are being thought of now. True talent comes from the masses!”

Compared to the morning, ”Fragrance Comes” became busier around noon, and Luo Qianqian was still there with her notebook, asking everyone.

There were suggestions to sell main dishes, set meals, complaints about the limited variety of only offering pig’s trotters and chicken claws in one flavor which lacked diverse options, and suggestions to start selling ready-to-eat foods in vacuum packaging for easy carry.

After gathering data all day, the two tired families had to sit down together in the evening for a meeting to discuss improvement plans.

”I’ve thought about the flavor of the pig’s trotters; I think buying some sauces to brush on would be good.”

”For the main dishes, steamed buns are not expensive.”

”I’ve had the idea for gifts-on-purchase for a while, but choosing the gifts is hard.”

”I’ve had an idea for other types of plush toys, but it’s too tiring.”

The discussion was lively, and Luo Qianqian was still jotting down in her notebook. Everyone stopped talking and chuckled as they watched her serious face.

”What’s up? Keep talking,” Luo Qianqian said, noticing the silence, without looking up.

”Qianqian, don’t you feel like you’re acting like a secretary to the boss? The kind that just takes notes,” Shufan joked with his sister.

”Who’s the boss?” Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes and continued working with her head down.

”Definitely not you,” He Wenyu patted Luo Qianqian’s shoulder and placed a plate on the table.

”I’m done writing; you guys discuss it, I need to use the restroom.” Luo Qianqian, touching the cellphone in her pocket, hurried into the restroom.

The densely packed notebook read:

Fragrance Comes: rice cooker, can offer a braised pig’s trotters set meal, not limited to pig’s trotters and chicken claws, can also include ribs and chicken legs, adding side dishes

Separately configured spicy pot base, for set meals, all can be sold individually

Luo Shenyao: A new plush toy each quarter, the same series keychain and backpack, backpacks limited to five per month

Phone pouches limited to different patterns each month, updating with the plush toys

Meanwhile, Luo Qianqian was in the restroom messaging Bai Yixian about the rotating hot pot machine. Luo Qianqian felt that making money was truly hard.

Suddenly, Luo Qianqian’s phone received several messages from her brothers at Luo’s family; it turned out the gifts had arrived. Seeing the text messages, Luo Qianqian smiled. No matter how tiring, having fun is what matters most.