The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 117: Grand Opening

Amidst the sound of gongs and drums, Taohua Dessert has grandly opened.

Thanks to Tong Huaqiong’s promotion, the entire Yan Guan Town and surrounding ten miles all know that on the opening day of Taohua Dessert, there are special offers given.

On the opening day, the customers flocked just for the gimmick of "free gifts."

Tong Huaqiong led everyone and eagerly welcomed them.

The shop was newly renovated, with a spacious storefront and clean counters displaying rows of pastries that were enticing just by sight.

To elevate the shop’s ambiance, Tong Huaqiong even sought her stepdaughter Gu Baishuang’s help to get glass as a display cover.

Wow, it was almost no different from a modern pastry shop.

Various types of pastries are displayed in the counter, clearly visible through the glass.

Tong Huaqiong, as the shopkeeper, led the clerks in the store, ready for anything.

"Taohua, you’re responsible for reception today. Yue Er, Xiao Cao, and Qiao Yun are all under your management," Tong Huaqiong instructed.

"Mom, don’t worry."

Gu Taohua was radiating with confidence; she was very experienced in welcoming customers.

She was extremely excited; even though the shop was under her mother’s name, it was still named after her, Taohua.

Taohua Dessert finally had its own shop.

No longer did they need to stand by the roadside to attract customers.

Now that the weather was hot, Tong Huaqiong placed ice basins in the shop to enhance customer experience, making the shop refreshingly cool. This not only made customers feel comfortable but also lifted Gu Taohua’s mood as she disliked the heat.

"Yue Er, Xiao Cao, Qiao Yun, the three of you, be alert and enthusiastic. Remember, under no circumstances should there be any disputes with customers," Tong Huaqiong instructed the first batch of female servers at Taohua Dessert.

Gu Xiaocao nodded; her main task was wrapping pastries.

Originally, Gu Xiaocao came to Taohua Dessert to cook, but Tong Huaqiong thought she had good aptitude and needed clerks more than cooks, so after some quick training, she was employed.

Liu Qiaoyun, who was beautiful, cheerful, and gentle, was recruited to temper Liu Yueer’s overly enthusiastic nature and also brought in as a server.

"Don’t worry, Aunt Tong."

Gu Xiaocao and Liu Qiaoyun promised in unison.

"Ma Huateng, don’t mess up with the money while you’re handling the cash register, or your wages will be deducted," Tong Huaqiong instructed Ma Huateng, standing at the cashier.

Ma Huateng nodded and said, "Got it."

Ma Huateng felt Aunt Tong didn’t stick to her word; she initially promised he’d just manage the accounts, but now he’s handling money.

Still, he couldn’t figure out why, but during the pre-opening mobilization meeting, Aunt Tong’s passionate speech of "you are not working for me, but fighting for your own future and dreams" inspired him, making his blood boil, ready to do anything asked of him.

Indeed, Tong Huaqiong, who painted dreams for her employees, had an inherent charm of a sales master.

"Dashu, Dahan, maintain order outside. Especially you, Dashu, keep a close watch to prevent anyone from sabotaging our opening," Tong Huaqiong instructed her two sons.

She had repeated this countless times, and the two sons could recite it.

Who to guard against? Naturally, against Crispy Food Garden’s Manager Feng.

"Jingzhe, you need to perk up too; you’ll specifically entertain the aunts and wives," Tong Huaqiong said to Gu Jingzhe.

Due to Gu Jingzhe’s outstanding looks, Tong Huaqiong arranged him as a server, mainly for smiling service to the aunts and wives.

Initially, Gu Jingzhe felt like he was going to die; he was a scholar, not someone who relied on looks.

Furthermore, his classmates at the private school loved a spectacle, and they would definitely come during the opening. Wouldn’t they mock him when they saw a student praised by the scholarly administrator entertaining customers?

Gu Jingzhe wanted to cry but dared not show an expression of weeping. He had to maintain a smile showing eight teeth, like learning from his second sister-in-law.

No choice, his mother was working so hard on such a big shop, as a son, he should help her.

It’s just smiling at the aunts and wives, right?

He will just treat the aunts and wives as books filled with knowledge. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

These are the personnel arrangements in the store; for logistical support, she enlisted Liu Yueer’s brother and sister-in-law and Qin Qingyou to help. Liu Yueer’s sister-in-law from the Hu Family cooked and boiled water for the shop employees, while Liu Shan and Qin Qingyou acted as security, assisting customers traveling by carriage to park and tie their vehicles, and generally helping out.

Even Man Er and Yaozu weren’t left out; the two were dressed like fairy children and fairy girls, with the primary function of advertising and praising their own pastries.

The oven was personally handled by her and Chen Sufen.

The counter displayed already baked pastries, while on-site baking in the oven was indispensable.

After all, who can refuse a freshly baked, steaming and aromatic pastry?

Chen Sufen was busy at the oven.

As batches of pastries were invented, Rouge Alley was enveloped in a rich aroma.

Gu Dahuan lit a thousand firecrackers sent by Huang Yuanwai, marking the official opening of Taohua Dessert.

Huang Yuanwai, invited by Tong Huaqiong to unveil the plaque, came dressed anew, with an expression of excitement and pride, to the plaque of Taohua Dessert. Under everyone’s watch, he and Tong Huaqiong together removed the red silk from the plaque.

"Taohua Dessert is officially open!" Huang Yuanwai’s voice was particularly loud, cheering for Tong Huaqiong, "Wishing Taohua Dessert prosperous business and abundant wealth."

"Thank you, Mr. Huang, for supporting us." Tong Huaqiong accepted with a smile.

In an instant, Taohua Dessert was surrounded by customers.

Liu Yueer’s prepared shouting was not needed.

Regardless of anything, the shopkeepers and clerks of other shops in Rouge Alley came to support; after all, in business, everyone gives face to neighbors.

Moreover, Taohua Dessert doesn’t see them as competition; its rival is Crispy Food Garden.

Gu Dahuan guided everyone to queue.

Gu Dashu carried a tray with samples and served tea to each person; mom said customers are like fathers that need careful service. In this heat, waiting in line wasn’t easy, so samples and tea quickly attracted more people to queue.

Gu Dashu’s workload then increased in difficulty; he had to closely monitor suspicious people in the line to prevent any disturbance during the opening.

Especially those from Crispy Food Garden needed to be watched closely.

Indeed, Crispy Food Garden’s owner, Ma Ming, was quite generous, sending a congratulatory gift to Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong received it.

Wave after wave of customers entered the shop, and Taohua Dessert’s novel business model piqued everyone’s interest.

Carrying trays to select pastries, choosing whichever they want, this was a first in Yan Guan Town.

After selecting, they proceed to the weighing area, where Gu Taohua skillfully weighs them, Gu Xiaocao quickly wraps them, and Ma Huateng swiftly collects the money beside them.

The whole process flowed seamlessly.

In this scorching weather, with ice inside the shop, the customers’ experience was excellent.

Customers who had left the shop turned into human megaphones for Tong Huaqiong, carrying free pastries, promoting along the streets.

Those aunts and wives who love pursuing value initially held a skeptical attitude upon hearing about the free gifts, but seeing Tong Huaqiong genuinely doing it, they rushed to queue at Taohua Dessert.

Even those queuing at Crispy Food Garden immediately deserted to run towards Rouge Alley upon hearing the news.

On the first day, Taohua Dessert managed to attract three-quarters of Yan Guan Town’s pastry-purchasing customers.