SPMT : Chapter 74 Starting a Business

“This is amazing!” Xiao Jingting looked at the ice chest before him.

Xiao Jingting had originally wondered how to handle cold drinks – did he need to use saltpeter to make ice? He didn’t expect this world to have no such worries – an array formation solved everything.

“This is a box made by an array master. It’s basically an ice condensation array carved on the box’s edge. Just pour water in, activate the array, and it will condense into ice,” [Xu Mu’an explained].

Xiao Jingting looked at the box with amazement.

“Put the prepared drinks inside, and they can quickly freeze,” Xu Mu’an said.

“You’re really smart,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xu Mu’an looked up at Xiao Jingting. “I’m not smart – this is common knowledge.” Xu Mu’an looked meaningfully at Xiao Jingting.

Xiao Jingting immediately frowned. Though he had integrated the original’s memories, he still unconsciously thought about this world in terms of his previous life. Xiao Jingting suddenly realized this wasn’t right. “I’ll pay attention.”

Xu Mu’an smiled. “It’s fine. Take it slowly.”

“Is the shop all renovated?” Xiao Jingting asked.

Xu Mu’an nodded. “Yes, the shop is renovated according to your specifications. The paper cups and straws you mentioned are all prepared. Tomorrow I’ll bring the cold drinks from home and we can open. But when we just open, there probably won’t be much business.”

“Good wine needs no bush – just take it slowly. Don’t pressure yourself too much,” Xiao Jingting patted Xu Mu’an’s shoulder.

Xu Mu’an nodded. “I know.”

Xiao Jingting took out an identity token and handed it to Xu Mu’an. “With this identity token, you should be able to mobilize some Xiao family servants. Take it.”

“Good. Tomorrow I’ll bring Xiao Fan and Xiaodong together,” Xu Mu’an said.

Xiao Jingting nodded. “Good, good, good. The two little ghosts should be able to help somewhat.”

“There are quite a few things this time. Fire Cloud Bird probably can’t carry them all. Second Brother said the Xiao family has special grain transport dragon horse carts we can borrow for free,” Xu Mu’an said.

“That’s great!” Xiao Jingting said. He loved free things most.

Early in the morning, Xu Mu’an took the two little ones and a cart of things and left. Once the family of three left, Xiao Jingting felt somewhat empty.

Xu Mu’an packed the prepared drinks and put them in the shop. When the time was about right, he opened for business.

Xu Mu’an originally thought business would be slow when they first opened, but unexpectedly it was quite good.

Some Xiao family servants heard this was Young Master Xiao Jingting’s shop and specially came to curry favor and show their faces. Some were Xiao Jingting’s former friends who heard this was Xiao Jingting’s shop and came to watch the excitement.

The drinks were priced at one tael of silver per cup. Xu Mu’an thought it was expensive, but Xiao Jingting insisted on taking the high-end route and stuck to this price. Xu Mu’an felt Xiao Jingting priced it at one tael per cup not because of the high-end route, but for convenience.

Desert City had many wealthy people after all. Though the pricing was high, there were still quite a few people buying drinks.

Xiao Xiaodong moved a small stool and stood at the counter, responsible for collecting accounts.

Xiao Xiaofan stood to the side, responsible for delivering drinks.

Xu Mu’an was responsible for preparing drinks according to customer needs and delivering them to the counter.

Before sunset, the cold drinks Xiao Jingting prepared were sold out, and Xu Mu’an took the two little ghosts home early.

“All sold out?” Xiao Jingting was somewhat surprised.

Xu Mu’an nodded. “Yes!” Because it was a trial sale, Xiao Jingting only made four hundred portions, which sold out at once.

“Big cities really have many rich people,” Xu Mu’an smiled. In small towns, who would be willing to drink such expensive beverages? But here, people were happy to buy them for their children.

Xiao Jingting nodded. “Yes! They actually all sold out.”

“Today we sold four hundred portions. If we can sell this amount every day, that’s twelve thousand taels of income per month,” Xu Mu’an said.

Xiao Jingting said excitedly, “Today was opening day – maybe in a few days income could double or even triple. When spirit wine goes on sale, business will be even better. Let’s not talk about this – let’s prepare tomorrow’s drinks.”

Xu Mu’an considered, “I’ll find some people to help. Just the two of us probably isn’t enough. Some simple washing and peeling work can be hired out for a small fee.” However, the drink formulas were secret and couldn’t be known by others.

Xiao Jingting nodded. “Good.” After working in the fields all day, he was exhausted. If he had to work overtime at night too, he’d really die from overwork. “Make more – better safe than sorry. If we can’t sell it all, our family can drink it anyway.”

Xu Mu’an saw Xiao Jingting’s tired appearance and quickly said, “Your condition isn’t good. After dinner, rest early. I’ll find people to help…”

“Good,” Xiao Jingting agreed.

The next day, Xu Mu’an brought over six hundred drinks, and all were sold out again. The drinks sold out, but Xu Mu’an’s expression wasn’t good. He even suggested having Xiao Jinfeng watch the shop, seeming somewhat listless.

Xiao Jingting secretly called Xiao Xiaodong out. “Xiaodong, how was business today?”

“Pretty good. Many people who came yesterday also came today and bought more than yesterday. Today at about the same time, all drinks sold out. But Xiao Fan secretly drank a lot and almost wet his pants. Tomorrow we need to prepare more – we should be able to sell more,” Xiao Xiaodong said.

Xiao Jingting: “…” Almost wet his pants!

“Then what’s wrong with your Mother-Father? His expression doesn’t look good,” Xiao Jingting asked.

“Grandfather came and wanted Mother-Father to give him thirty cups of cold drinks. Mother-Father said it would cost thirty taels. Grandfather said ‘you’re charging me money?’ Mother-Father said we must pay. Then they argued. Grandfather called Mother-Father unfilial and ungrateful in front of many drink-buying customers, making a big scene that many people watched. But grandfather clearly sold Mother-Father before – now he comes to scold Mother-Father,” Xiao Xiaodong said with a dark expression.

Xiao Jingting rubbed his nose. The word “filial” could crush people! Xu Fu was also something – if he had quietly asked for drinks, Xu Mu’an might not have refused. But asking in front of customers wouldn’t work. If they didn’t charge him, everyone would try to get connections and not pay. How could they do business then?

Xu Fu’s appetite was also large! Asking for thirty cups right away. If Xu Mu’an gave them like this, this person’s appetite might grow bigger and bigger.

Xu Mu’an was his concubine, and the shop bore his name. If Xu Mu’an just gave them away, Xiao family people might inevitably say Xu Mu’an was bad, using Xiao family money to supplement his natal family. But if Xu Mu’an didn’t give them, Xiao family people would think Xu Mu’an was too cold. Either way was wrong.

“There were also Xiao family people who came. Great Aunt also came to look, saw business was good, and made some sour remarks. Father, you should ask Second Uncle to help watch the shop. Second Uncle doesn’t have much to do now anyway, and with children at home, it’s inconvenient for him to do missions. Second Uncle can better control the situation. If Second Uncle watches the shop, Grandfather definitely wouldn’t dare make trouble,” Xiao Xiaodong said.

Xiao Jingting nodded. He really hadn’t thought things through carefully enough. Xu Mu’an was his concubine and a ger. Even though his cultivation was good now, his status was still criticized.

If business continued to grow, Xiao family people might want to get involved. Then Xu Mu’an’s status might be repeatedly brought up. But how did Xiao Xiaodong, at such a young age, understand about “controlling the situation”?

“Alright, I’ll go find your Second Uncle,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xiao Xiaodong nodded. “Mm, Father, go quickly. Actually, I’ll go with you.”

Xiao Jingting: “…” Was Xiao Xiaodong afraid he couldn’t explain clearly?

“You want me to help watch the shop?” Xiao Jinfeng asked.

Xiao Jingting nodded. “Yes!”

“Second Uncle, Mother-Father can’t control the situation. Those demons and monsters are jumping around. Only you can handle it,” Xiao Xiaodong said with hands on his hips.

Xiao Jinfeng: “…”

Xiao Jingting flicked Xiao Xiaodong’s forehead. “What demons and monsters? Don’t talk nonsense.”

“I’m not talking nonsense,” Xiao Xiaodong said.

“Second Brother, if you help me watch the shop, I’ll give you thirty percent of the profits, okay?” Xiao Jingting said.

Xiao Jinfeng smiled helplessly. “How could I take your money?”

The two brothers bargained for a while and finally settled on twenty percent of the profits.

Xu Mu’an wasn’t angry about Xiao Jingting’s decisive shop manager change, but rather breathed a sigh of relief.

“It’s good to leave the shop to Second Brother.” Xiao Jinfeng was a Xiao family member with parents at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement – his status was more commanding than his.

“You’re too tired. Second Brother is too idle. Giving the shop to Second Brother lets you stay home and develop new drinks and brew spirit wine,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xu Mu’an nodded and smiled. “Good.”

With the shop transferred to Xiao Jinfeng, Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan still went to help.

Xiao Xiaodong did things methodically and impressively. Though Xiao Xiaofan wasn’t very quick, he could handle simple tasks well.

Xu Fu came again but seeing the shop owner had changed to Xiao Jinfeng, he didn’t dare show himself and left.

Xiao Jinfeng had heard from Xiao Xiaodong that the shop’s business was good and sales were booming, but only after actually sitting in the shop did he know how good business really was. Many people bought drinks ten cups at a time. The shop had a promotion: buy ten get one free.

Xiao Jinfeng watched busy Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan, deeply feeling that Xiao Jingting had taught his two children well – so young yet so sensible.

After Xiao Jinfeng sold out all the drinks he brought, he closed the shop and went home.

“Jingting, your shop’s business is really good,” Xiao Jinfeng said excitedly as soon as he returned.

Xiao Jingting looked at the extremely excited Xiao Jinfeng and smiled. “It’s the opening period. People think it’s novel and might buy more. Business might slow down in a few days.”

“But in a few days, there will be regular customers! It won’t be that much worse,” Xiao Jinfeng said. “Today’s sales were around one thousand taels. If we can maintain this level, that’s thirty thousand taels per month. Repaying your ten thousand taels monthly debt would be no problem at all.”

Xiao Jingting nodded. “That would be good.”

“Jingting, today many people asked if we could provide delivery service. If drinks could be delivered, sales could increase even more,” Xiao Jinfeng said.

“I’ve considered delivery. We could consider minimum order quantities for delivery, but we’d need to recruit delivery people. Second Brother, do you have suitable candidates?”

“I do know some people,” Xiao Jinfeng scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

Xiao Jingting said, “From the mercenary group?”

Xiao Jinfeng smiled awkwardly. “There was one in the mercenary group whose qi sea was broken by demonic beasts and couldn’t cultivate anymore, so he left. Another had his leg bitten and fitted with a prosthetic – movement isn’t convenient, but calculating accounts is fine. He could help in the shop. And another one…”

“Second Brother, don’t you resent the mercenary group?” Xiao Jingting asked.

“When I was expelled from the mercenary group, those people had already left, so it has nothing to do with them.”

Xiao Jinfeng sighed. “Jingting, mercenaries all gamble their lives for advancement. Once eliminated, life becomes very difficult. When mercenaries can earn money, they’re the family pillars. When eliminated, they easily become family burdens. I’ve visited some of my former teammates. One was injured and came back, then his wife ran off with someone. His own brothers despised him – really pitiful.”

Xiao Jingting nodded. “In that case, Second Brother, you decide. Second Brother can order uniforms for the delivery staff.”

“Good, I’ll go order them,” Xiao Jinfeng said.

Xiao Jingting hesitated. “Second Brother, when you were a mercenary, it must have been hard.”

Xiao Jinfeng smiled. “It’s all in the past.”