Chapter 186: 186 Brand Collaboration (For Alliance Hierarch’s Rest of Life, Extra Chapter 1 during Wind and Snow) Chapter 186: 186 Brand Collaboration (For Alliance Hierarch’s Rest of Life, Extra Chapter 1 during Wind and Snow) “Phew. Speaking it out loud does make you feel much better.”
Luo Xiyun took a deep breath, turned to look at Chen Xu who was holding the steering wheel, and said, “I know it’s not your fault. I’m just a bit upset. If we had recognized each other earlier, none of this would have happened.”
Chen Xu sighed silently. Was it just about this matter?
There was still the issue with Yang Jinxia, and later on, Bai Jinxuan.
He could hardly imagine what would happen if the three of them t.
He could only hope that such a day would never co.
Chen Xu drove ho, picked up his parents and Chen Ziqi, and headed straight to the hotel. They arrived just as the banquet was about to begin.
His cousin had invited relatives from both sides, with the Chen family having slightly more people, filling three tables. Luo Xiyun beca the most popular person at these three tables, as everyone warmly greeted her and Chen Xu.
Chen Xu didn’t ask what gifts she had bought, but judging from the enthusiasm of his relatives, they were probably quite valuable.
After the banquet, when they got back ho, Chen Xu took his parents to their room to discuss giving them two hundred thousand tomorrow to first pay off a portion of their debt, with the rest to follow in a couple of months.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xinwen’s expression turned serious, “Xiao Xu, we may be poor, but we need to have pride. I can’t say much about your girlfriend giving gifts to everyone. But we can’t use soone else’s money, you understand?”
Zeng Wenli also said, “Your father is right. No matter how good your relationship is, you must keep money matters clear. It’s her family’s wealth, and you can’t consider it your own. You must not be confused about this.”
“Don’t worry, I have a clear understanding. I earned this two hundred thousand myself,” Chen Xu then told them in detail about resigning from his job and opening his own shop.
Chen Xinwen and Zeng Wenli looked at each other, astonished.
“You child, such a big decision, and you didn’t even discuss it with us first,” Zeng Wenli chided.
Chen Xu said, “I just didn’t want to worry you.”
Zeng Wenli scolded him a few more tis, but eventually couldn’t help asking, “Is running a noodle shop really that profitable? Can you make sixty or seventy thousand a month?”
“Last month, I did,” Chen Xu said.
“This…” Zeng Wenli couldn’t help but look at her husband.
Chen Xinwen took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, hesitated for a mont, then stuffed them back in, saying, “I’ll take a day off tomorrow and co by to see your noodle shop.”
“I’ll co too,” Zeng Wenli said.
Chen Xinwen wanted to say sothing but held back.
Chen Xu had wanted to wait until the end of the year to tell them, planning to pay off all the debt at once. Unfortunately, plans don’t always co to fruition as quickly as changes do. With Luo Xiyun returning this ti, bringing so many gifts, there were bound to be so who would gossip about his wealthy girlfriend while still owing so much money.
Not to ntion the various rumors that might spread.
He knew his parents cared a lot about such gossip. He didn’t want to make it difficult for them, so he decided to take out the money to pay off a portion of the debt first. The rest, together with the interest, could be cleared in two months.
It was just that by doing this, he would have to postpone his plan to buy a car.
…
The next morning, Chen Xu drove while Luo Xiyun sat in the passenger seat, with his parents and Chen Ziqi in the back, just like a family outing.
After arriving at the noodle shop, Luo Xiyun, who still had work to do at her company, left first, telling Chen Xu’s parents before she left that she would pick them up in the evening to go out for dinner.
Once she was gone, Zeng Wenli couldn’t contain her curiosity and asked, “What does Xiyun do for work?”
Chen Ziqi finally found an opportunity and hastily said, “Auntie, you might not know this. Sister-in-law used to be Chen Xu’s direct superior. She was the director of their company, and now she’s the vice president, one of those with an annual salary of a million.”
Zeng Wenli was shocked, “An annual salary of a million? She’s so young…”
“That’s what you don’t understand. To beco a company leader nowadays, it depends on background, education, and ability. Sister-in-law isn’t lacking in any of these.”
As Chen Ziqi spoke, the conversation shifted, “Of course, now Chen Xu is no less successful. The noodle shop is about to open another branch, and in the future, the more branches he opens, he might even create a chain brand and beco a billionaire.”
Zeng Wenli thought about it and felt there was so truth to this; her son’s noodle shop was making seventy to eighty thousand a month, so it wasn’t far off.
She knew her son well, understanding that he rarely boasted and certainly wouldn’t use such matters to deceive them.
Nevertheless, she still felt uneasy. Luo Xiyun had been too generous with her gifts, she whispered, “Xiao Xu, what do Xiyun’s family do?”
“I haven’t asked her, but they must be quite reputable and well-positioned,” Chen Xu could guess so parts, but it wasn’t appropriate to tell his parents outright, so he gave them a bit of a heads-up.
“Let’s go have a look at the store.”
It was approaching the busy lunch hour, and the noodle shop was quite crowded.
“Boss, you’re back,” Aunt Zhang spotted him from afar and greeted him loudly.
Seeing the shop nearly full, Chen Xinwen suggested, “Just look around here for a bit, don’t go inside and interfere with the business.”
Chen Xu could only stand outside with them.
Chen Xinwen observed from outside for a while and saw that the number of custors in the store never decreased. He nodded and said, “Let’s go, let’s check out your rented place.”
So, Chen Xu took them back to his rental first.
Chen Xinwen and his wife stayed there for one night and took a taxi back early the next morning. They didn’t ask Chen Xu to drive them, saying it would be a hassle to borrow the car and exhausting to run around.
…
In the following week, Chen Xu devoted his energy to decorating the new store, and Xu Xiaoxiao also took her work very seriously. Every day after work, she would co over to supervise. Soon, the new store was ready.
On the opening day, Chen Xu asked Dai Zixin to help promote it on her social circle. As a result, a particularly large number of people ca on the first day, with Luo Xiyun even bringing her entire departnt to support the opening.
A few of Dai Zixin’s friends also brought a big group of their friends.
And Yanqing, among other regular custors, all ca.
It was at this ti that Chen Xu realized his social circle had unknowingly grown a lot larger than before, and he had quite a few friends he could count on.
The second branch’s noodle shop was more than twice the size of the old one and could accommodate many more custors. On the first day, the turnover broke the old store’s record.
Luckily, Chen Xu had recruited enough staff in advance; the five employees at the new store were very busy. Due to their lack of experience, they made a few mistakes, but fortunately, with his close supervision, no significant problems occurred.
However, the sales on the first day were not the norm. Luo Xiyun and her departnt couldn’t co to support the opening every day. It would take so ti to see the sustained performance.
He had now fully handed over the old store to Aunt Zhou and her team, even hiring an additional employee so they could rotate shifts. He himself stayed at the new store all the ti, only visiting the old store once each night to check in with Aunt Zhou.
For an entire month, he was busy with the store, only having dinner with Luo Xiyun a few tis. Mainly because she was also particularly busy; the company’s online channel had just opened up, and she was one of the main persons in charge, overwheld with countless tasks, working over ten hours a day. Sotis, she couldn’t even find the ti to eat.
…
It was now June, and the weather was getting hotter.
One morning, just past seven, Chen Xu arrived at the branch, as usual, to find the two morning shift employees already waiting there.
He opened the door, and the two employees started cleaning up the store proficiently, preparing for the first wave of custors in the morning.
Gradually, people began to arrive for breakfast.
Around eight o’clock, a woman dressed in professional attire caught Chen Xu’s attention. He noticed her because she had been coming every day that week, never missing a single al or late-night snack, and each ti she ordered a different type of noodles.
More importantly, unlike regular custors, she always observed her surroundings while eating. Sotis, when she noticed his attention, she would nod and smile at him, then continue as usual.
In short, she didn’t seem to be here just to eat.
Of course, Chen Xu didn’t want to bother with it, as long as she wasn’t causing trouble.
“You’re the owner here, aren’t you?” This ti, she walked up to him directly and asked.
He was a bit surprised and nodded, “Yes, I am.”
“My na is Jiang Yan, and I would like to talk to you.” The woman took out a business card and handed it over, “This is my card.”
Chen Xu took it and saw, Jinyun Catering Group Co., Ltd., Brand Promotion Departnt Supervisor, Jiang Yan. He could sowhat guess her intention but still found it incredible. His first reaction was, could she be a fraudster?
“Let’s talk in my office,” he said. Regardless, it was worth having a discussion.
His “office” was actually quite small, barely accommodating a sofa and a coffee table, fit to entertain guests.
After Jiang Yan sat down, she asked, “Don’t know if you’ve heard of our company?”
Chen Xu was boiling water and replied, “I haven’t.”
“Well, I’d suggest looking into it. Our company primarily operates in the catering industry with several chain brands under our umbrella, including fast food, milk tea, and bistro bars,” Jiang Yan ntioned a few brands.
Chen Xu had seen these brands around the streets, but he kept a neutral face and asked, “What did you want to talk to about?”
Jiang Yan inquired, “May I ask how to address you?”
“Chen Xu.”
“Mr. Chen, I am specifically responsible for discovering restaurants with potential and working with them. Together, we utilize our resources to promote and grow the brand, achieving mutually beneficial results. After observing for several days, I believe your noodle shop has great potential, and I’d like to extend an invitation to join our company as one of our sub-brands.”
Chen Xu was curious, “Isn’t the usual practice to buy the recipe?”
“No, no, no. Recipes are static; what matters is the people.”
Jiang Yan smiled, “There are many ‘recipes’ in the world, but only a few beco mature products. Instead of spending a lot of money on a recipe, it’s more efficient to collaborate with soone who has already created a mature product. That’s the most effective approach.”
Chen Xu had to admit, this pitch was persuasive. But he continued the conversation.
The discussion lasted for nearly half an hour.
In the end, Chen Xu stated that he needed a few days to think about it.
Jiang Yan left behind several examples of past successful collaborations before she departed.
PS: For the first Alliance Hierarch in my life, this is the first of the additional five chapters.
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