CHAPTER 423: CHAPTER 423: JOINING FORCES TO MARGINALIZE

A man with a horse face sneered.

"We’ve used such tactics too. As for the craftsmanship, it’s just so-so. At most, it’s a bit tastier than ours. It’s not as exaggerated as the rumors say."

Sister Xian nodded in agreement: "I think the same."

After all, Pei’s started as a pastry shop, and it’s only been a day or two since Pei Shu’er invited us to collaborate on a restaurant.

What advanced culinary skills could Pei Shu’er have learned?

Manager Yang said, "Since Pei’s Restaurant is having such a big event, should we team up and offer even bigger discounts?"

The horse face hesitated but agreed.

The other restaurants nodded as well.

The only one who hadn’t expressed an opinion yet was Sister Xian. They looked toward Sister Xian.

The Drunken Immortal Tower has always been the leader in Jingzhou’s dining scene.

"Sister Xian?"

Sister Xian smiled and waved her hand.

"I know what you mean, but count me out. Her restaurant’s lineup poses no threat to me."

Without the Drunken Immortal Tower, the other restaurants are still quite strong.

If they join forces to lower prices, they’ve been operating here long enough that just their regular customers would be enough to make Pei’s Restaurant struggle.

The horse face said, "How about we go to my Jiaoyao Restaurant to discuss the details?"

Other managers nodded, and Sister Xian sensibly said her farewells.

"You go ahead; I won’t be joining. I also won’t reveal your plans."

With that, she gave a charming smile and sashayed away.

She felt that with just those few restaurants, Pei’s wouldn’t be able to withstand it. There’s no need for her to get involved and cause trouble for herself.

There was simply no need for her to intervene.

Pei’s Restaurant doesn’t have capital, doesn’t have backing, and lacks craftsmanship.

After those people left, Lin Yu approached Pei Shu’er.

"Young Madam, those people have left."

Pei Shu’er smiled and nodded: "Thank you for your hard work."

Tang Zan asked, "Can you hold up?"

Pei Shu’er smiled with her eyes curved, it was a very beautiful and sweet smile, which made Tang Zan’s heart beat a little faster.

He realized that no matter how long he looked at his wife, he would never grow tired of her.

"If they had done this before I opened the restaurant, I might have had a headache, but now, it’s too late for them to do this."

Tang Zan smiled: "Got it."

Then he took out three thousand silver notes.

"Take this. When dealing with them, it’s just a matter of outlasting them."

Pei Shu’er was reluctant to take it, but Tang Zan’s eyes were fixed on her.

"If you don’t take it, don’t blame me for kissing you."

"I don’t like the way many customers look at you, I even wish I could announce it to the world."

Pei Shu’er hurriedly took the money from Tang Zan’s hand.

Not for any other reason, but because she wanted to save face.

Of course, she didn’t think she would need to use this three thousand silver notes.

After all, the ingredients she used were from spatial storage, and wages were settled at the end of the month.

She had no reason to refuse Tang Zan’s good intentions, otherwise Tang Zan, the big villain, might resort to other means.

The next day at breakfast, there were fewer people dining there, and there was no one in the waiting area, but the tables were full.

At the same time, many people dining at Pei’s Restaurant were also discussing.

"Have you heard? Many restaurants in Jingzhou are offering big discounts and have joined forces. After dining at one restaurant, they even give coupons for other restaurants."

"No wonder it’s much less crowded this morning. So many restaurants teaming up against Pei’s Restaurant, it’s likely they won’t last long."

The words were spoken with a hint of regret.

"Ah, cherish the food for now; who knows when Pei’s Restaurant might not hold out, and then we won’t get to eat such delicious food anymore."

That day in Jingzhou City, different voices were heard.

"Have you heard? Pei’s Restaurant is about to close. How can that manager compete with the old restaurants in Jingzhou City?"

"She can only blame herself for offending those restaurants."

"I disagree with you there. She’s just opened her own restaurant and didn’t even open across from anyone else, so how did she offend those restaurants? And the taste, have you tried it? It’s really delicious."

"I have tried it, just hoping Pei’s Restaurant can hold on."

"Sigh! I doubt it."

There were many in Jingzhou City saying such things.

In stark contrast to the previous day’s rave reviews of Pei’s, today was almost all negative.

The horse-faced manager looked at Manager Yang.

"This event is having an effect, at least the business of a few of our restaurants has improved."

Manager Yang was also very satisfied: "Our restaurant’s business is even better than before Pei’s Restaurant opened. In a few days, Pei’s will have to close."

The horse-faced manager said, "When they opened Pei’s Pastry Shop, they already spent a lot of silver, and now this restaurant will have even higher costs. But with their discounts so high, they’re just losing money to gain fame."

Manager Yang laughed heartily: "They probably haven’t earned any money these days, have they? Buying ingredients definitely costs money, and those seasonings require money too. They can’t hold on for a few more days."

In the following days, these restaurants still had good business.

But the fifty-percent discount greatly reduced their profit margins, and they realized they weren’t making as much as before.

Even after deducting costs, they were still running at a loss.

The horse-faced manager looked worriedly at Manager Yang.

"Pei’s should be going out of business soon, right? Why aren’t they closing yet? Several restaurants are already lamenting."

Manager Yang said, "Let’s go take another look."

When they arrived at Pei’s Restaurant, they found that business there was even more prosperous than before.

The line of waiting people grew, and they even spotted several old customers there, making their expressions darken slightly.

However, upon hearing the discussions of those long-time patrons, they felt somewhat comforted.

They thought Pei’s was about to close, so they came to spend a little more before it did, lest they miss out on this food.

They figured Pei’s could enjoy a few more days of success.

Manager Yang said, "Let’s go inside and have a look."

As soon as everyone heard this, they immediately stepped toward the entrance.

They wanted to see what kind of charm this Pei’s Restaurant had that could still attract so many customers before going out of business.

Upon entering, they saw Pei Shu’er standing behind the counter.

She didn’t seem surprised to see them.

"If you want to eat, you’ll have to queue up. Please wait in the waiting area," she said.

The horse-faced man frowned at these words.

"As managers from other restaurants coming to support your business, this is how you treat us?"

Manager Yang chuckled, waving his hand: "Be polite, Manager Pei probably didn’t recognize us."

He then introduced himself to Pei Shu’er.

"We are managers from the restaurants in Jingzhou City."

Pei Shu’er said indifferently, "Oh."

These people teamed up against her, yet they expected her gratitude?

Pei Shu’er kept calculating on her abacus with one hand while noting down the calculated numbers with the other.

Without looking up, she smiled faintly.

"I recognized you, but so what? These people came before you. Among them are merchants, chefs, and even some managers, and they are all waiting patiently, right?"

"Here, there are no status differences. As long as you have money to eat, you’re a master; everyone is a master. Naturally, it all comes down to first come, first served."

After finishing her calculations, Pei Shu’er lifted her head from the ledger, her smile growing larger.

"So if the managers want to eat, go line up. Even if you have to line up, you won’t be bored."

Seeing them stand motionless by the counter, blocking other customers from settling their bills,

Pei Shu’er said sternly, "That’s the rule."