A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

Lin Wei paused for a moment, then thought about what she meant and said, "Who? Just someone who wants some snacks, right?"

"Think about it again," Chen Wanxing patiently guided. "For example, truly wealthy families have small kitchens and dedicated pastry chefs in their homes. Would they frequently buy pastries from outside shops?"

"No, that won't happen." Lin Wei shook her head. "If my mother wants to eat something, she always asks the small kitchen to make it, or she asks the cook to order it from a familiar old shop. She rarely goes to the shop herself to buy it."

"So," Chen Wanxing nodded, "most of the people who come to the shop to buy snacks are people who don't cook at home or can't make snacks often. They might buy some as a treat."

Lin Wei said thoughtfully, "Sister, are you saying that our shop relies on neighborhood shoppers for retail sales, and the business won't grow much? Because they don't buy too much at once, and they don't come every day."

"That's one aspect," Chen Wanxing continued, "Think about it again, besides eating them yourself, what's another great use for snacks?"

"Gifts!" Lin Wei blurted out. "During holidays, when visiting relatives and friends, we always bring a box of snacks to express our gratitude."

"Yes." Chen Wanxing's eyes brightened slightly. "Gifts are the real business for pastry shops. People buy several boxes at a time, emphasizing appearances; price isn't the most important factor. But that's the problem—"

She paused, looking at Lin Wei: "If you were to give a gift to an elder or an important family in Ruyang County, which pastry shop would you choose?"

Lin Wei barely thought about it: "It must be Ruifangzhai or Guixianglou, those are all decades-old brands. People will recognize them as gifts, it's prestigious, and the items are reliable."

After saying that, she froze, her expression shifting from confusion to realization, and finally to dejection.

"I understand, sister. What you mean is that our shop is new and not well-known. People might come to try it out for their own consumption, but when it comes to giving gifts and making a good impression, we won't be the first place they think of."

She became increasingly discouraged as she spoke: "The established stores have a reputation; people recognize the brand. Even if our products are just as good, or even better, without that reputation, people won't dare to buy them as gifts. They're afraid that if they give them away, people will think they're not valuable or thoughtful..."

Seeing that she had figured it out herself, Chen Wanxing stopped talking and quietly added half a bowl of soup for her.

The principle is not profound, but Lin Wei may never have thought about her shop's predicament from this perspective before.

The private room was quiet for a moment, with only the faint sounds of the city outside the window. Lin Wei gently poked at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks. The enthusiasm she had shown while shopping had been dampened considerably by the realities of life.

"Does this mean new shops can never compete with established ones? Are they just destined to wait and slowly build up their reputation over the years?"

She was clearly unwilling to accept this passive and lengthy answer, and even her voice carried a sense of resentment.

Chen Wanxing thought for a moment, then didn't answer immediately. Instead, she picked up a piece of refreshing seasonal vegetable, chewed it carefully, and then put down her chopsticks. She looked at Lin Wei with a thoughtful expression in her eyes:

"Weiwei, what do you think is the biggest advantage of those old shops?"

"Reputation, a well-known brand, everyone recognizes it," Lin Wei answered quickly.

"That's right." Chen Wanxing nodded. "So, how did you acquire this reputation?"

Lin Wei was a little confused by her question. How did it come about? Isn't it just about building up a reputation over the years? The longer it's been open, the more people eat there, and that's how it gets its name, right?

She said it because she thought so, and Chen Wanxing shook her head with a slight smile upon hearing it.

"How could that be? If it's just because they drive for a long time, then anyone can drive for a long time."

But look, quite a few new pastry shops have opened in the county town in recent years, so why is it that only a handful have truly established themselves and become recognized as time-honored brands?

Lin Wei was stumped by the question, her brow furrowing slightly as she pondered it seriously.

"Why are only these few places allowed..." she murmured repeatedly, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of the teacup.

As she pondered, her eyes lit up, as if a fog had been cleared from her vision: "I understand, sister. I was thinking too superficially before, only seeing their current reputation, but not thinking deeply about where this reputation actually came from."

She spoke faster, with a sense of sudden enlightenment and excitement: "In the beginning, they must have been able to retain customers because their food was really good, the taste was presentable, and the ingredients were of high quality."

And then, year after year, they maintained this standard without ever slacking off.

Customers get used to their food and know they can't go wrong buying from them. When giving gifts during holidays, mentioning their gift boxes is instantly recognizable and makes everyone feel prestigious. That's when their reputation is truly established, becoming a golden brand.

Speaking of her own shop, her tone became more confident: "The master chef in our shop has inherited his skills from his family, and he never skimps on the ingredients. In terms of reliability and deliciousness, he is not necessarily inferior to those old shops."

But this confidence only lasted for a moment. As Lin Wei spoke, she became irritable again, her shoulders slumped, and worries crept back onto her brow.

"But what's the use of knowing all this? What we lack now is time, and what we lack is everyone's recognition, so we still can't compete with those established shops."

Are we really going to follow in their footsteps, trying to be the best at everything, and then toil away for ten or eight years, waiting for customers to slowly gain their approval?

Chen Wanxing reached out and gently tapped her forehead from a distance, her eyes filled with reproach and encouragement: "Silly girl, why are you so stubborn and only thinking about following in the footsteps of others?"

"If you want to defeat them, just following behind them won't work. Can't you think of a different approach?"

"A shortcut?" Lin Wei looked up, her eyes full of doubt.

"Yes, that's right." Chen Wanxing's voice softened. "Stable flavors are the foundation of those established restaurants, that's true. But have you ever considered that this foundation can sometimes become a burden for them?"

"A burden?" Lin Wei was even more puzzled.

"Think about it carefully," Chen Wanxing said patiently, peeling back the layers of thought. "Since it's a well-established brand that has been passed down by word of mouth for decades and relies on stability, what are they most afraid of?"

Should we change? The flavors shouldn't change easily, and the style shouldn't change too much either. Everything should be kept in the way that our regular customers are most familiar with and approve of.

They seek absolute certainty, to avoid any mistakes. Does this mean they are inherently hesitant and afraid to try new things or seek change?

Lin Wei's eyes widened little by little, the confusion in them gradually replaced by a clarity that seemed to have caught a crucial glimmer of light, and she involuntarily leaned forward:

"Is my sister saying that they're trapped by their established brand and therefore hesitant to experiment with new ideas or launch new styles?"

Lin Wei blinked, as if she had grasped something: "Sister, are you saying they don't dare to change things up or come up with new products?"

"That's right, at least it won't change drastically easily," Chen Wanxing affirmed. "That's where the opportunity for the new shop lies."

In terms of stability, we may find it difficult to challenge their dominance in the short term. But in terms of dynamism and innovation, we can be more flexible and daring than them.

Isn't this a ready-made alternative route that we can try?