Back To The 80s: President's Doted Wife

Chapter 1773: Chapter 1774: Grand Opening

In July, Cheng Su’s Seafood Shop opened. The entrance was packed with flower baskets, the signboard was covered with red silk. At exactly ten o’clock, she’d invited a lion dance to liven things up. An eight-direction table was set up at the door, piled with offerings and a roast suckling pig. Cheng Su personally made offerings and prayed to the gods, lit a long string of firecrackers for “wealth rolling in,” then finally lifted the red silk.

The gold-lacquered signboard with the three characters for “Joy Soon Loy” appeared before everyone’s eyes. The shop was crammed full of goods, all neatly arranged, clean and tidy.

“How come you’re still using this signboard?” Old Master Cheng and the others had also come for the opening ceremony. He looked at the name on the sign and asked.

Cheng Su said, “I’ve already registered this as a trademark. I’ll probably use this name for everything from now on, including restaurants and hotels and such, to build my own brand.”

Old Master Cheng let out an “oh,” walked into the shop with his hands clasped behind his back, looking around, secretly nodding. Then he said to Cheng Yaozu, “We should support our own family’s business. See if the restaurants that cooperate with us can give your sister some orders.”

Cheng Yaozu smiled and said sure.

Cheng Su added, “On Fourth Brother’s account, there will definitely be big discounts—great quality at a low price.”

Cheng Yaozu pointed at her with a laugh. “I know you, girl—you’re trying to sweet-talk me into buying something for you, aren’t you?”

Cheng Su shrugged with an innocent look. “Did I say anything like that? But if you want to support the business, you’re very welcome.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Qi Xiaoqi was looking all around. Cheng Yaozu picked him up and said, “Look, your shop. Even though it’s your mom doing business, in the future you should make her charge you rent!”

Qi Xiaoqi grinned wide, his few tiny rice-grain teeth white and shiny, just like pearls.

“Don’t sabotage the bond between mother and son. What’s his is mine, and what’s mine is still mine. If he’s not filial, I just won’t give it to him!” Cheng Su pinched her son’s cheek.

See? That’s a real mom for you, such a good schemer.

Everyone laughed again.

“All right, stop blocking the shop from doing business. Go sit at the restaurant!” Old Master Cheng waved his hand.

With an opening, of course there had to be a celebratory, auspicious opening banquet. The tables had been booked long ago. Cheng Su had Cheng Yaozu and the others go over first; she’d head over when it was about time.

Once they left, Cheng Su gathered the employees for a brief meeting. For the opening, the shop was offering a ten percent discount and small free gifts. However many gifts were given out, they all had to be properly recorded. And on normal days, the care and maintenance of some of the dried seafood also had to be done well—if they messed that up, the goods might end up ruined.

Besides that, hygiene also had to be spotless—couldn’t be grimy. If the place looked dirty, the goods would look dirty too, and people wouldn’t feel like buying.

Most importantly, in sales, you had to have a sweet tongue. If there was a super large order and the customer asked for a bigger discount, they needed to get her approval first.

The shop accepted long-term cooperation. If restaurants or big customers came looking for large orders, they could place advance reservations, but a deposit had to be taken.

Cheng Su nagged on for a while, then had Yu Qingjiu act as cashier, set up an account book, and started doing income and expense balancing.

Someone passed by the door, looked up at the shop’s name, and paused at the entrance to have a look. Two of the older ladies immediately went up to greet them, calling out loudly that there was a ten percent discount for the grand opening, with free gifts…

Cheng Su watched with a smile.

It wasn’t until noon that they finally made their first sale, and it was only a pound of dried scallops. The employees were a bit uneasy, but Cheng Su didn’t think it was a big deal. As long as there was a sale, that meant the market had “opened,” and a shop was something you had to build up by sitting and waiting.

So, seeing that business wasn’t exactly booming, she closed the doors at noon. Everyone went together to the restaurant for the opening banquet, then headed back to the shop afterward to reopen and stand guard, waiting for customers.