I met my whole family through Baidu Tieba.

Looking at Guo Pinyan's current state, Shen Kang felt as if he had traveled back to the era of brothels more than two hundred years ago, and Guo Pinyan was one of those people who smoked too much in those brothels.

It's so damn similar.

"Is there any more?"

Shen Kang asked while cracking sunflower seeds.

Guo Pinyan was still in a daze, as if she had smoked too much. After a while, she shook her head and said, "It's gone."

pop

Shen Kang put down the sunflower seeds in his hand, clapped his hands to clean the crumbs, stood up, and walked towards the door. "If there aren't any, then I'm leaving."

Where are you going?

"study."

"...This is fucking bizarre."

……

After leaving the coffee shop, Shen Kang walked along Xiaodong Street, heading to B12. He didn't dawdle any longer—he had been studying with "reverence" earlier, but now it was different. Now he had important things to do, so his mindset was different.

But things in this world are just so coincidental.

When he didn't want to go to B12, he couldn't find a legitimate reason no matter what he did. Now that he wants to go, the legitimate reason has appeared on its own.

"Boss Shen."

Just as he reached the end of Xiaodong Street, a man jumped out and called out to him.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Bi Xiangyu, the manager of Wonka Milk Tea.

"Manager Bi." Shen Kang stopped in his tracks.

"We've just run into each other! Come on, come on, how about trying our new 'Golden Jasmine'? It's on me." Bi Xiangyu was quite enthusiastic and tried to pull Shen Kang into the store.

Shen Kang thought to himself, "I couldn't find anyone to do anything serious just now, but you're here now that I have something to do." He then repeatedly refused.

"Never mind, I'm in a hurry to study."

"..."

Looking at Bi Xiangyu's strange expression, Shen Kang felt a little annoyed. He thought to himself, "Is my studying that weird? What's with all those expressions?"

Bi Xiangyu seemed to realize that his expression was a bit off, so he quickly laughed it off: "Boss Shen is still so passionate about learning, it's admirable! Sigh, if I had been as passionate about learning as Boss Shen when I was in school, I could have gone to Tsinghua or Peking University, instead of ending up working in this little milk tea shop..."

After exchanging a few meaningless words, Bi Xiangyu asked, seemingly casually, "By the way, Boss Shen, it feels like I haven't seen Zhu Jingdong for quite a while?"

Shen Kang glanced at him, thought for a moment, and then, without hiding anything, said directly, "A new store opened near Qianmin University, and he went there to provide training and guidance."

Bi Xiangyu was taken aback, but immediately said, "Congratulations!"

Shen Kang had originally intended to leave, but after chatting with Bi Xiangyu for a few minutes, he couldn't help but say, "Manager Bi, you've matured. I remember you used to be quite student-like, but now you talk more and more like a grown-up."

Bi Xiangyu was taken aback again, shook his head, but said nothing.

Seeing that he didn't seem to have anything else to say, Shen Kang said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

"it is good."

Shen Kang left just like that.

Bi Xiangyu didn't go back to the store. He stood at the store entrance, his mind still replaying Shen Kang's evaluation of him.

He also felt that he had indeed matured a bit, but there was no other way; he was forced into it.

Looking back on his journey, Bi Xiangyu feels that things have gone relatively smoothly.

After graduation, I successfully joined Wonka's headquarters as a management trainee. Later, when a store was opening at Yangko University, my former boss sent me there to gain experience.

After arriving at Yangko University of Science and Technology, he successfully destroyed the original store there in just a few months. With a monopoly, business was naturally booming, and the single store's performance was excellent.

Everything has been going smoothly.

This smooth success proved that Bi Xiangyu was right, and the right person doesn't need to be changed. So when Shen Kang first met Bi Xiangyu, he still felt that this store manager had a bit of an academic air about him.

However, things changed after he met Shen Kang.

Under Zhu Jingdong's abstract manipulation, Bi Xiangyu experienced for the first time in his life what it felt like to be idioted—a loyal old customer being idioted is also idiot.

At that moment, watching his regular customers beam with satisfaction in front of Zhu Jingdong, while Boss Shen stood by with an "evil" grin, that feeling...

At that moment, all Bi Xiangyu wanted to do was shout to the heavens, "No, no, no!..."

However, considering that the "enemy" was right in front of him, he did not do anything rash at the time, but left in a very dignified manner.

That regular customer was just the first one.

Bi Xiangyu also gradually began to feel anxious.

He seemed to be beginning to understand what those young couple running the shop at Yangko University of Science and Technology must have felt back then.

It's not just him, a frontline employee, who is under pressure.

When the performance of Yangke University's directly operated stores continued to decline, some rivals at headquarters also used this as a pretext to attack them, trying to step on them and promote their own people.

His former boss also told him about this.

"...According to the original plan, you should have been able to be transferred back to headquarters and promoted to the next level by the end of the year at the latest. But now, your store's performance has been declining, and the other party has something to say about it. I can only barely keep things afloat... Sigh, look at the mess this has made. I was hoping you could come back and help me... In the end, you still need to prove your abilities..."

Bi Xiangyu felt unprecedented pressure and worked even harder, often tossing and turning at night trying to find a solution.

However, the directly operated store model has been locked down by higher-ups. As a mere store manager, he can't change the product categories, prices, or even directly alter Wonka's milk tea business model. All he can do is try to come up with some promotional activities. And even that requires submitting a report and applying to higher-ups before any promotions can be implemented.

Promotional activities do have some effect; data shows that during the promotional discount period, the data did ease the situation somewhat, but overall, the data continued to decline.

After all, Yanyu Chaji is fundamentally different from Wonka Milk Tea – the milk tea model is different – ​​and this cannot be changed by one or two promotional activities.

The only saving grace is that it didn't keep declining.

According to the store's data, the downward trend has gradually slowed down.

But it hurts a lot too.

Based on the data, it is roughly estimated that Wonka Milk Tea has lost 30% of its customers.

The number may seem small, only 30%, but after Bi Xiangyu checked the daily revenue, average order value, and other data, and conducted a comprehensive analysis, he discovered that these 30% were Wonka Milk Tea's "top customers"—customers with large spending and high purchase frequency.

Yanyu Chaji is the one who lured away these customers.

This means that although Wonka Milk Tea only lost 30% of its customers, the financial statements showed a loss of more than 40%.

Bi Xiangyu also explained the reasons in detail to his superiors. At the same time, he resubmitted his own proposal, strongly suggesting that his store be used as a pilot to incubate a milk tea sub-brand similar to Yanyu Chaji.

Bi Xiangyu also made this very clear in the report.

"...With economic development, more and more customers with purchasing power are no longer satisfied with the old Wonka milk tea model, but are more inclined to pay a higher average order value for a better experience. This consumer group is constantly growing, so I suggest that we can also create a sub-brand of Wonka, 'Tea Talk Freshly Made,' which will also use real milk and real tea leaves..."

"...This doesn't mean abandoning Wonka's past milk tea model, but rather building on that foundation and taking a two-pronged approach. For the low-to-mid-end market, covering the broadest segment, we'll use the Wonka model. For the high-end core consumer group, we'll use Tea Talk Fresh to reach them and improve profit margins..."

Bi Xiangyu spent more than half a month writing this report.

But three days after he submitted it, his former boss called him.

On the phone, his former boss spoke gently, first acknowledging his efforts and saying that he had read the report twice, adding that Xiangyu had put his mind to it.

However, the tone immediately shifted, saying that the feedback from above was "not mature enough".

"...The company's strategy for next year has already been set, and all resources are being put into the new product line of the main brand and the expansion plans of several major regions. In addition, if this new product really succeeds, it will impact consumers' perceptions. They will think, Wonka itself said that 'non-dairy creamer' is no good, so they will be even less likely to buy it. We will lose our foundation. Some people even say, 'Bi Xiangyu, you are a spy sent from outside. You are trying to uproot our company.'"

Bi Xiangyu was furious when he heard this, and repeatedly said that he was absolutely doing it for the company's sake!

His former boss also comforted him.

"Of course we know you're doing this for the company's benefit, and that's just Old Zhao talking nonsense, making a big deal out of small loopholes. But it does give the boss a lot of concerns, and he said to put it on hold... Also, someone in the meeting mentioned that your business isn't doing well, and wondered if you're not capable enough, and wanted to send someone to take over, but I turned that down... You also need to do a good job on your own side and stabilize the data..."

After the conversation, Bi Xiangyu was once again certain that his idea of ​​starting a sub-brand and creating a new business model was doomed to fail.

Moreover, according to another source of information from Bi Xiangyu, many people at headquarters said they weren't up to the task...

Bi Xiangyu snapped out of his thoughts and was originally planning to go back to the shop, but after taking just one step, he changed direction.

He walked out and came to Xiaodong Street, looking in the direction of Yanyu Chaji.

There were several people queuing outside the Yanyu Tea House.

There was no queue outside the Wonka Milk Tea shop. This wasn't because Yanyu Tea had more customers than Wonka Milk Tea, but because the two shops were different sizes.

Wonka Milk Tea has several employees stationed there, making it fast, and there's also interior space where customers can sit and wait, so it's impossible for them to crowd at the entrance.

Yanyu Tea Girl only has one employee, so she works slowly and doesn't have much space inside the store, just a stall. So, please don't crowd the entrance, okay?

"But this also makes them seem even more popular..."

Bi Xiangyu watched, lost in thought.

As he was thinking, he remembered what Shen Kang had just said: they had already opened a shop at Qianmin University, and there was also a Wonka Milk Tea shop at Qianmin University.

This gave Bi Xiangyu a strange sense of anticipation.

Didn't you say I couldn't do it? Then you guys go and try it yourselves.

……

A study room in B12

Shen Kang strolled in through the back door and came to Feng Moquan's table.

Jin Chao was somewhat surprised: "I thought you went on a date and weren't coming back."

Feng Moquan also said something ridiculous: "Actually, Lao Shen, since you're just playing on your phone here anyway, you might as well go on a date."

Shen Kang ignored them and nudged Wang Pan, who was still fast asleep on the table. "Brother Pan, wake up, wake up..."

After being nudged twice, Wang Pan groggily opened his eyes, wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and asked, "Is it lunchtime?"

"It's still early."

Shen Kang gestured for Feng Moquan to move to a corner, making room for him. He then sat down in the empty seat, directly next to Wang Pan. "Brother Pan, I remember, your family is from Anfang City, right?"

Wang Pan had just woken up, his head still a little fuzzy. "Hmm. Why did you wake me up if it's not mealtime? No, I'm still a bit sleepy, I'll sleep a little longer."

As he spoke, he was about to lie down on the table and go back to sleep.

Shen Kang quickly stopped him, placing his hand between his head and arm, "Sleep slowly first, you can sleep after I finish talking."

Wang Pan was helpless and had no choice but to turn his head to him, "What is it? Tell me quickly."

Shen Kang asked, "Is your family from Anfang City?"

Wang Pan hummed in agreement.

Shen Kang's tone carried a hint of regret: "That's right. Actually, it's not a big deal. I saw you mentioned wanting to join Anjia Local Community before, right? I reckon it's unlikely for the next two years. Just wait a bit longer. Join Anjia Local Community when you've rented a place in Yangcheng or settled down there."

"?"

"!"

Wang Pan, who had been half-asleep, suddenly woke up, sat up abruptly, and shouted, "Why?"

They deliberately kept their voices down when they spoke, so although they were whispering, the other people sitting scattered around the study room could still understand.

Wang Pan's loud voice caused several people to frown. One boy frowned and turned around to look, but after seeing that there were four boys there, he silently turned his head back.

"What are you doing?" someone next to him asked.

The boy, without batting an eye, said, "It's nothing, my neck hurts from sitting for so long, I'm just turning it around."

这头

Feng Moquan shushed Wang Pan, saying, "He still needs to study." He was quite polite.

Wang Pan was also very well-mannered, and consciously lowered his voice, but the excitement in his words was undeniable.

"Old Shen, did you panic when I mentioned joining Anjia Local Community Club? Are you afraid I'll meet some high-ranking officials there, rise to prominence, and eventually trample you underfoot? So you're deliberately making things difficult for me and preventing me from joining? Why can everyone else join but I can't! I'm not satisfied, I protest, I demand a reconsideration!..."

He felt so angry and wronged; Old Shen was bullying him too much and targeting him!

Sigh, it seems that although Old Shen doesn't say it out loud, he's deeply wary of Wang Pan. Otherwise, why would he suddenly cause such a commotion after Wang Pan accidentally let slip that he was also joining Anjia Tongcheng Hui? "No one is mediocre if they don't attract envy!" It's all because Wang Pan is too outstanding, making Old Shen so wary…