Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Astonishing Sales Figures

Inside the shop, Chen Huajiang sat at the counter, assisting customers with their membership cards and patiently explaining the details.

“Our membership cards can be used at any Kunlun Restaurant in any city. As long as there’s a Kunlun Restaurant in the city, you can use it there.”

“There’s no time limit, only a balance limit. You spend as much as you want, whenever you want—no restrictions.”

“Later? I’m sorry, this is a special promotion for our grand opening. We might have similar events in the future, but definitely not anytime soon.”

Chen Huajiang smiled as he explained to the customers, with a hint of embellishment in some aspects. The claim about other Kunlun Restaurant branches in other cities was technically true, but only for the future.

When he took over the shop, he already had plans to turn it into a chain, just as he had done in his previous life. In a way, it wasn’t exactly a lie—more like painting a grand vision.

“I’ll put ten yuan on my card.”

“I’d like a five-yuan membership card.”

“I’ll take one for ten yuan.”

“Give me a twenty-yuan card.”

…

A crowd gathered at the counter to sign up, and Chen Huajiang quickly helped them process their cards.

Each membership card came in two copies: one for the customer, another recorded in the shop’s archives. Whenever a customer made a purchase, the amount was noted on their card’s record page, making everything traceable.

This was a necessity given the environment—computers weren’t even a shadow in the country, and wouldn’t appear for another ten years. Even internet cafés back then had no automated billing; memberships were tracked by handwritten records.

“This fried chicken leg tastes really good—fragrant, tender, and crisp.”

“Indeed, the flavor is excellent. Very tasty.”

“The soup here is free? Give me a bowl.”

The shop was packed with diners. Though they didn’t order much, they praised the food’s taste enthusiastically.

These were chicken legs marinated with recipes from Chen Huajiang’s previous life, breaded and deep-fried—with the oil specially prepared, including a touch of alum. Frankly, they tasted even better than later generations of fried chicken legs, thanks to the superior ingredients of the era.

“One yuan? Never mind, I’ll get half a membership card instead.”

“Exactly! One yuan for a chicken leg is too expensive, but the membership card costs only fifty cents each—it’s a better deal.”

“I’m going to get a membership card. I don’t want to lose out.”

After finishing their meals, some customers began to murmur. With the membership card’s buy-one-get-one offer, it amounted to half-price dining. Paying full price without a card meant losing half the value. With this logic, many diners queued up to sign up for membership cards.

By closing time in the evening, everyone was visibly exhausted.

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

“These are red envelopes—a little token of appreciation.”

Chen Huajiang, weary himself, saw Zhang Hong and Wang Cuihua rubbing their necks and grimacing. He took out the red envelopes he’d prepared in advance and handed them to them.

“Oh, this is too much.”

“Yes, the boss already paid us a month’s wages. How can we accept your red envelopes?”

The two women hesitated, but under Chen Huajiang’s persistence, they accepted the envelopes with happy smiles. It wasn’t much, but it showed his care for them, warming their hearts.

Wang Guobing, Li Jianguo, and the two apprentices also received red envelopes, and everyone was delighted.

Next were Black Tiger’s men. They’d played the part of “shills” all day, and Chen Huajiang wouldn’t let them go unpaid—the envelopes served as their wages.

“Thank you, Brother Chen.”

“Thank you, Boss Chen.”

Their envelopes had more—two yuan each—making the group of helpers beam with joy.

Once everyone left, only Chen Huajiang, Black Tiger, the other shareholders, and his father-in-law, still busy with his tangram puzzle, remained in the shop.

“I didn’t expect business to be this good. I thought the first day, with no reputation, we wouldn’t earn anything.”

“Exactly! My legs are aching from running around all day. Who knew everyone would be so supportive—the turnout was amazing.”

“Brother Chen really has a head for business, coming up with so many tricks. But doesn’t the membership card lose money? By my calculations, we’re giving away half the profits.”

Now, with only their own people present, everyone was relaxed, slouching as they drank water and chatted.

As Da Guang spoke, everyone turned to Chen Huajiang.

Chen Huajiang was counting the day’s earnings. Hearing the question, he laughed and swept his gaze over them.

“You really think the listed price is the real price? Would any of you pay one yuan for a chicken leg? If you wouldn’t, why assume the customers would?”

“This is just a strategy. The so-called original price is a pretense; the actual transaction price is always the membership price. The membership card may be buy-one-get-one, but the bonus is not withdrawable—it can only be spent in our shop. Now do you see? We’re not losing money; we never intended to set the price that high.”

“Soon, every customer will have a membership card. In essence, there’s no difference between members and non-members. See?”

Chen Huajiang shook his head, smiling. This was a basic trick, common knowledge for even children in later years—a routine everywhere. But here, it was their first encounter, and everyone genuinely, naively believed the shop was losing money.

Truly—

Chen Huajiang couldn’t help but smile—people in these times hadn’t seen many tricks, their innocence was almost endearing.

“This—”

“My goodness, Brother Chen, you’re brilliant, coming up with such a method!”

“Impressive—truly impressive! You almost fooled me, but now I see we’re not losing after all.”

It took a moment for everyone to grasp the scheme, emerging from the buy-one-get-one routine and looking at Chen Huajiang with admiration.

They respected his quick thinking and resourcefulness.

“But isn’t this deceptive?” a voice suddenly asked, tinged with disapproval.

Everyone turned—it was Chen Huajiang’s father-in-law, Lin Laogen, a pipe clamped in his mouth, brows furrowed.

He still held a planer in his hand, shaving the tangram pieces smooth.

Knowing Lin Laogen was Chen Huajiang’s father-in-law, no one dared say much and kept silent.

“Dad, you’re mistaken. Deceiving is lying to people. We’re telling everything honestly, explaining it all clearly.”

“If someone doesn’t have a membership card, they pay one yuan for a chicken leg—if they’re willing. Those with cards pay the agreed price, everything transparent and aboveboard. Where’s the deception?”

“I’m just leveraging everyone’s desire for a bargain, creating a seemingly cheaper option to encourage spending here.”

Chen Huajiang explained patiently.

But his father-in-law shook his head, clearly unconvinced, though he said nothing more.

Seeing this, Chen Huajiang didn’t bother continuing. People of this era were straightforward, preferring direct dealings, and they looked down on such roundabout tricks. Yet, in just a few years, these routines would be everywhere.

“Whew—finally finished. Today we issued three hundred and forty-five membership cards. Most were for ten yuan, fewer for five or twenty yuan.”

“A total income of three thousand three hundred fifty yuan. After deducting today’s labor and operating costs, we have two thousand eight hundred fifteen yuan left.”

Chen Huajiang put down the abacus and rubbed his numb shoulder.

With his words, everyone stared at him, their eyes wide in astonishment.

Even Lin Laogen paused his planing, his pipe dropping to the floor with a thud.

Three thousand three hundred fifty yuan in revenue, two thousand eight hundred fifteen yuan in surplus.

It was as if they were making money hand over fist!