Chapter 87.1 Shaoguang's Business
The pop-up stall in East Market turned out to be remarkably effective. Over the next few days, customers flocked to Chongxian Lane and Qinren Lane, seeking out Shen Indelible Tavern specifically to indulge in their renowned hot pot.
Those who had sampled the flavors two days prior at East Market returned, eager for more. As they ate, they couldn't help but inquire, "What makes your mutton so exceptional? No matter how we try at home, we can't seem to replicate the taste."
"Our broth is simply unparalleled!" the silver-tongued steward would reply with a knowing smile. "But don't trouble yourself—just visit our tavern. Here, you can order any soup base you like, choose from an array of dipping foods, and create your perfect dipping sauce. We also serve the finest liquor from Xinfeng County, sweet-scented osmanthus wine, Cornelian Meat, Jadeite Rounds, and a host of other delicacies. And if that’s not enough, you can enjoy the spectacle of Zhang Two devouring ‘Springy Meat Balls’!"
Hearing the steward's final remark, the guest chuckled.
"Would you care for another plate of shrimp, esteemed guest?" the steward asked with a warm smile, eyeing the near-empty dish on the table.
…
There were also those who had arrived, drawn by the growing reputation of Shen Indelible Tavern. "I heard there was a 'hot pot festival' in East Market on Lidong, with an exquisitely-made hot pot cooker serving richly flavored meat that drew a crowd. That was your establishment, correct?"
"Indeed, it was," the steward confirmed proudly. "Please, come in, sir. Perhaps you'd like to try our signature milky soup base? It's the very same one we served at East Market."
"I’d love to! I’ve heard that the soup base itself is already delicious."
"Excellent choice, Sir! Just this broth alone is enough to make a meal. Paired with our fresh mutton and tender fish balls, or even something as simple as plain botuo noodles, it will taste divine. The aroma speaks for itself—you can catch it wafting through the store!"
…
There were also those who had missed out on the opportunity during the Lidong Hot Pot Festival—the ones who had spotted the bustling stall in East Market but had no time to stop and eat, or those who couldn’t secure a seat amidst the crowd.
"I can finally enjoy myself today!" they would exclaim, as if a long-cherished wish had finally been fulfilled.
For such guests, the attentive steward would offer a complimentary plate of floral cakes, the same delicacy that "enticed the Tanhua Envoy to dismount his horse," as a gesture to soften the regret of missing out.
As Shen Shaoguang and Shao Jie made their rounds through the stores, surveying the thriving business, they were deeply satisfied with the results.
"It’s a shame Lidong only comes once a year..." Shao Jie sighed, his ambition showing in his insatiable longing for more success.
Shen Shaoguang comforted him, "It's no matter. When spring arrives and fresh vegetables flood the market, we'll offer Spring Platters. During Lixia, we can feature all kinds of cold dishes. Come the start of autumn, we can host a roast meat festival or even a crab festival. As long as you're able to secure spots in the East and West Markets, Sir, we could easily hold four or five festivals a year."
Shao Jie, however, placed great significance on this 'first time.' "Even though we’ll set up stalls again in the future—perhaps even grander than this one—this first time is special. Miss, since you're able to draw, you should illustrate and record what happened at the East Market’s Hotpot Festival."
Shen Shaoguang, seeing right through his intentions, raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to make multiple copies and hang them in all of our branches?"
"That would be perfect!" Shao Jie clapped his hands, brimming with excitement. "A long scroll would be best, with large, bold characters—something tied to the theme of 'Prosperity and Peace.'"
Shen Shaoguang shot her ‘major shareholder’ a knowing, half-amused smile.
Shao Jie paused and chuckled, "It's a bit labor-intensive, isn't it? Actually, you could paint just two pictures... or even one would suffice. The more copies we make, the less rare and valuable it becomes. This painting must be framed by the best shop in the East City. Once it’s framed, each store can take turns displaying it."
Shen Shaoguang figured it out: if Sir Shao were living in modern times, he'd likely mask business ventures as public welfare events, orchestrate photo ops, film videos, write advertorials, flood WeChat and Weibo, get featured in newspapers, and even secure a trending topic on social media. Truly, an unscrupulous businessman...
Feigning self-importance, Shen Shaoguang said, "Alright, I'll think about it." But she couldn't hold back her laughter after saying that.
Shao Jie joined in, laughing along with her.
Then the two engaged in their usual "daily shareholders' meeting," boasting wildly about their business and eagerly envisioning the future.
"The third and fourth stores are opening soon. I estimate that by next summer, we’ll have six or seven stores running, don’t you think?" Shao Jie said confidently.
Shen Shaoguang thought he was overly optimistic but didn’t want to dampen his spirits.
"There are one hundred and eight lanes in Chang'an. If we exclude the poorer areas, the outskirts, the lanes dominated by the wealthy, and those filled with large gardens and temples, we’ll still have at least half left, right? In those fifty lanes, we’ll open a store every four or five. By the end of next year, Miss, do you think we could cover nearly the entire city of Chang'an?"
Shen Shaoguang mused, "...And then we’ll expand to East City, North City, Bian Prefecture, Pu Prefecture, and even... Jiangnan?" The last words were spoken in unison, followed by shared laughter.
Though they knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, dreaming big was half the fun.
Yu San came to the backyard to fetch some meat and found two people, Shen Shaoguang and Shao Jie, laughing like fools at the foot of the wall. He stood there, feeling a chaos of emotions.
Meanwhile, the two didn't mind being seen, remaining comfortably nestled in their conversation, hands tucked into their sleeves* as they continued their "high-level meeting."
"In the future, we should assign dedicated personnel to handle store inspections, accounting, employee training, and purchasing. Otherwise, even if we had three heads and six arms, we wouldn’t be able to manage it all."
Shen Shaoguang nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Just like the imperial court, where there are three central departments—the Secretariat, the Chancellery, and the Department of State Affairs—along with the Six Ministries, Nine Courts, and Five Directorates[1]. Each has its own specific responsibilities, and only by coordinating can everything function smoothly."
The Shao Residence, being a family of prominent merchants, had well-established management practices. Though they operated in a clan-based system, their methods were worth referencing. Meanwhile, Shen Shaoguang, with her future knowledge and experience in the dining industry, was familiar with how to run a successful catering business. Together, having already opened two thriving taverns, they began laying the groundwork for their future "Shen Clan's Catering Chain."
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T/N: Wanted to make a mention here about where Shen Shaoguang and Shao Jie are holding their "high-level meeting" with hands tucked into their sleeves (手揣在袖子). I think this needs a visual, so here’s an image: