When Mu Shuangshuang was renovating the restaurant, she reserved a room that was not open to the public.

She called it a private room, but in reality, it should be called an office.

Inside, there were brushes, ink, paper, and everything needed, and it was well-lit and ventilated.

Most importantly, it was quiet inside!

She waited in the private room for a while, then Yu Dahai came up, entered the room, and like Mu Shuangshuang, he did not close the door.

A single man and a woman alone in a room should avoid suspicion somehow!

Yu Dahai said, "Shuangshuang, I discovered something!"

"The restaurant opposite is faking it! In reality, they don’t have that many customers at all! When you came here earlier, did you see many people outside queuing for a meal?"

Mu Shuangshuang nodded, "Indeed, the seating rate over there is much higher than ours!"

"That’s because many people there aren’t actually eating; they are hired by the steward opposite.

They can order one or two dishes without paying and even get paid!"

What, is that even possible???

Mu Shuangshuang frowned, "How... how do you know this?"

"Ma Jun, opposite, used to be the head chef of Phoenix Soaring Building in town; there was a time when its seating rate was also incredibly high every day, just like now.

But in reality, during that time, Phoenix Soaring Building was operating at a loss. That idea was Ma Jun’s, exploiting people’s curiosity to attract those unaware of the truth to dine at their restaurant!

Gradually building the restaurant’s reputation! With Ma Jun hired by them, he surely promised Xia Guagua to snatch away our customers.

However, as you know, our customers, once used to our food, shouldn’t be easily swayed! Unless, by hiring people to stage it!

Moreover, I’ve verified this; some people frequently visit, and I gave them twenty coins to tell me!"

The situation Yu Dahai described was something Mu Shuangshuang had encountered in her previous life.

When people go out to shop or dine, they tend to choose crowded places.

Because it creates the impression that this store’s goods or this restaurant’s dishes are better than elsewhere.

Mu Shuangshuang also remembered a certain internet-famous milk tea place that hired people to stand in line every day, creating the illusion that many people liked their products.

Mu Shuangshuang never expected that people a thousand years ago could be so clever.

However, while they got many people to line up, they didn’t lower prices like Xia Guagua did!

"This kind of underhanded tactic will backfire sooner or later!" Mu Shuangshuang said.

"I agree, but we can’t sit idly by; we should bring back the customers we’ve lost!

Shuangshuang, didn’t you previously set up a VIP card system for the prestigious landlords in town? I think that system could also be extended to ordinary people.

The only question is, can it be made distinct for different segments?"

As the steward, Yu Dahai knew the restaurant’s situation inside out.

After Mu Shuangshuang rolled out the VIP card, during that period, those landlords kept coming to the restaurant to dine, specifically ordering expensive dishes to reach the five taels of silver needed for a VIP card.

If landlords would spend to compare with each other, wouldn’t ordinary people do the same?

Mu Shuangshuang thought carefully about Yu Dahai’s words; the VIP system was indeed something she learned from modern times.

Initially, she targeted it only at the wealthy in town.

Now thinking about it, ordinary people also need some strategy to retain them.

Moreover, a mere great-tasting dish won’t necessarily bring people back.

At least, from the current situation, this seems to be the case!

"How about this: the previous VIP cards were made of wood, square-shaped pieces? This time, we’ll make them long strips, and names can be engraved on them.

We’ll add some decoration, and the conditions are... If someone eats at our restaurant for at least twenty days a month or spends five coins in one visit, they can obtain one.

For these long strips, we won’t offer discounts, just points — one coin per point, and once someone accumulates a thousand points, equal to a tael of silver, during holidays, we’ll give gifts. Oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea, or delicacies, they’re all good!"

Yu Dahai’s eyes lit up as he processed what Mu Shuang had said, and he was immediately in high spirits.

"I’ll instruct someone to make those VIP cards now!" Yu Dahai said.

"Wait, let me draw you a blueprint; follow my design to make it distinctive, and I’ll add some anti-counterfeiting marks!" Mu Shuangshuang said.

Hearing this, Yu Dahai nodded repeatedly.

Indeed, some anti-counterfeiting elements are necessary; the opposite side copies everything, there’s no guarantee they won’t imitate this too.

While drawing, Mu Shuangshuang didn’t forget to ask Yu Dahai: "Brother Yu, what would it take for that restaurant opposite to be shut down?"

Mu Shuangshuang didn’t intend to let Xia Guagua drag this out with her.

Moreover, she believed that with Xia Guagua running a restaurant for so long, there would surely be slip-ups.

Whether it’s hygiene or staffing! 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The majority she learned from here is just superficial!

"Food poisoning, serving unsanitary food, defaulting on debts, or if the restaurant’s shopkeeper commits a crime..."

Yu Dahai listed a lot, and after finishing, he looked at Mu Shuangshuang with a more inquisitive gaze.

"Shuangshuang, you’re not planning to use these methods, are you?"

Mu Shuangshuang smiled and shook her head, "No, I’m just asking! I wouldn’t be as bad as Xia Guagua!"

Yu Dahai patted his chest, "You scared me! I thought you were going to do that!"

During the conversation, Mu Shuangshuang had finished drawing the blueprint, both front and back.

The front said ’VIP Chengfeng Restaurant’ engraved with a carving knife, while the back had a numbered system.

They planned to make only two hundred at first, on a first-come, first-served basis!

"After these wooden strips are made, we’ll take them back and carve three vertical lines in an inconspicuous place ourselves!

So even if they figure it out and have craftsmen forge it, they definitely won’t replicate the vertical lines our people made.".

Yu Dahai happily took the blueprint and headed out.

Seeing that the time was about right for today, Mu Shuangshuang briefed the restaurant staff and returned to the village.

...

The Old Mu Family was in complete turmoil!

Mu Xiangxiang had come back to her parental home, and Old Mrs. Mu was preparing to kill a chicken to nourish Mu Xiangxiang.

But when she checked the chicken coop, one chicken was missing.

At the chicken shed’s door, Old Mrs. Mu started cursing loudly: "Which cursed thief stole my chicken, the one I worked so hard to raise.

Wretched scum, rotten goods, someone catch the thief for me! A thief has come into the house..."

Hearing Old Mrs. Mu’s cursing, everyone in the Old Mu Family poked their heads out one by one, looking at each other utterly confused!