Lin Yinghui knew his laid-back personality, and didn’t respond to him, directly taking him to the private room in the backyard.
Lin Wan asked Aunt Gui to prepare a pot of spicy food and send it to the backyard’s private room.
After Lin Yinghui and Li Congnan had their meal, they rode around on bikes and disappeared for an afternoon. When they returned, they brought back two crates of alcohol.
With all the drinks ready, Lin Wan felt relieved.
In the two days since opening, they maintained over a hundred yuan daily.
The alcohol in their store didn’t sell very well, but drinks went quickly; two crates were needed per day.
Li Congnan personally came by after 6 PM the next day to collect the bottles and settle accounts, also restocking new goods.
After collecting the payment, Li Congnan’s face lit up with a smile, "If all customers were as straightforward as Sister Lin, I wouldn’t have to go to school anymore. I’d run around the market every day, stocking people’s goods and settling accounts once they’re sold. That would make for a decent income."
Lin Wan, surprised, chuckled, "Brother Li, do you mean your family takes pre-payment for deliveries?"
Li Congnan gave her a sarcastic side-eye, "If Yinghui weren’t my classmate and I hadn’t recommended and guaranteed in front of my parents, do you think we would have given you goods upfront? Even those supply and marketing cooperatives require payment first." After saying this, Li Congnan suddenly laughed, slouched over Lin Wan’s front desk with a smug look, and said, "Unless it’s someone we’re closely connected to, only then do we let them take goods first. I’m tight with your brother, get it? Next time you come here for a meal, don’t forget to give me a discount."
Lin Wan, awkward, nodded, "Of course, of course."
Not long after seeing Li Congnan off, the customer who reserved a private room yesterday arrived with over a dozen people. Lin Wan personally escorted them to the innermost private room on the second floor.
She asked Xiao Gu to host them.
Xiao Gu is the only boy in the shop, eighteen years old, around the same age as her. He looks very cute and, at seventeen, still has a bit of baby-faced charm. Just looking at him makes you want to pinch his cheeks.
This table of guests ate for over two hours, and by the time they left, the shop was practically empty.
Sitting for such a long time, they consumed a lot. They drank two yuan’s worth of beverages alone—not to mention the alcohol and food. In the end, the total was fifty-eight yuan.
In the end, Lin Wan directly gave him the promotional price, knocking off ten yuan. Though the customer didn’t say anything, Lin Wan saw the satisfied smile in his eyes.
The first private room reservation was a success, and Lin Wan could almost see piles of money rolling into her pockets.
It would be great if more wealthy clients came to the shop. One meal was equivalent to an ordinary person’s two months’ salary. How wealthy they must be!
The excitement from the night before hadn’t worn off, yet the next day brought a heavy blow. Once the promotion ended, very few people came to eat; just seven or eight tables in the entire day.
Compared to yesterday, it was a world of difference—quite desolate.
Not only were the staff worried, but although Lin Wan had anticipated this, she couldn’t help but feel anxious too.
She had already bought less today, but there were still many leftovers. Fortunately, they had a tricycle. When Lin Wan brought back so many vegetables on the tricycle, Liang Hongmei was full of worry.
"Mom, this is normal. When we first opened the clay pot shop, we also had no business initially. Promotion takes time. Judging by the feedback these days, the customers have good things to say about our hotpot. Don’t worry."
"As long as you both have a plan. Mom’s knowledge is limited, doesn’t know much. When something comes up, you and your brother should discuss it."
"Mom, you made it to the second year of junior high, how can you say your knowledge is limited?"
"Oh, stop teasing me."
Their previously anxious hearts were eased a lot by this lighthearted exchange between mother and daughter.
These past few days, there had been a few drizzles, and the weather suddenly turned cold. Lin Wan quickly took out her sweaters and thermal pants to wear. The weather up North doesn’t give you a buffer from summer to autumn, diving straight into winter.
Thinking she’d need to wear sweaters and thermal pants, Lin Wan took out the sweaters she knitted over the past few months.
There were over thirty pieces in total. Both adults’ and children’s. All with different styles.