The Tender Beauty is Sweetly Doted in the 20th Century Novel!-Chapter 161 - 160: Even More Beautiful in Person Than in Photos
"Oh geez, brother, what are you doing! I was just asking what happened."
Jiang Yuan was quite displeased, her face full of dissatisfaction as Jiang Tianrui dragged her away. After all, she was genuinely worried about Ye Manman.
Seeing her looking so clueless, Jiang Tianrui found it hard to explain to her or ignore her, so he had to think quickly.
"You’ll understand these things once you’re married, stop asking."
He was worried He Chen might hear and get embarrassed, so he whispered it especially quietly to her, yet He Chen still overheard.
He awkwardly cleared his throat and temporarily left this place of trouble.
Ye Manman felt a bit better after having lunch and taking a nap, but her body was still quite exhausted. After going downstairs, she looked around and subtly lifted her brows with a look of satisfaction.
He Chen was contemplating the contract he needed to sign in a couple of days. As soon as he saw her coming down, he immediately got up and poured her a cup of hot water.
"Why did you come down?"
He knew he went a bit too far last night, so he was even less willing to let others see Ye Manman in her current state, her charming and alluring demeanor was simply enchanting.
While speaking, he seemed inclined to take her back upstairs.
Ye Manman took a sip of the hot water, lazily raised an arm, rested her little hand on her chin, and lifted her beautiful eyes.
"I’m just getting some fresh air, don’t make me go back upstairs. It’s so boring up there with no one to talk to."
He Chen still didn’t quite want to move aside, but as it happened, Cheng Yuan, who hadn’t found the time to come and study with Ye Manman for many days, arrived with a notebook.
"Manman! I’ve been so busy lately, I haven’t found time to come over. I’ve saved up a lot of questions I want to ask you now, do you have time?"
He Chen frowned, just about to express a bit of displeasure, but Ye Manman looked up and glared at him teasingly, "It’s all your fault I’m like this now, go do your work."
Since she said so, He Chen could only suppress the little jealousy in his heart and silently returned to the counter.
Cheng Yuan seriously gathered all the wrong and difficult questions to ask, which not only saved Ye Manman’s time but also allowed her to consolidate those tricky questions that often appear on exams again.
While the two of them studied earnestly, He Chen occasionally cast resentful glances her way after selling Sweet and Spicy Duck.
Seeing that people look for Ye Manman every day, asking if she’s sick when they don’t see her for a while, He Chen felt happy on one hand, glad she had genuine friends, but a bit jealous on the other.
He couldn’t help but reminisce about the past when in the village, he was the only one by Ye Manman’s side, and all her attention and time were devoted to him. Just thinking about it made him feel unbelievably sweet.
But He Chen was also clear in his heart that they were bound to move toward bigger and farther places.
They would inevitably meet more people, especially with Ye Manman’s clever mind and good grades, more people would come into her life in the future.
He didn’t want to confine her to this small spot; she deserved to shine brightly.
So He Chen was willing to endure this sour and jealous feeling.
Anyway, no matter how others vied, she was his.
Later in the evening, not long after Cheng Yuan left, Jiang Tiancheng, Jiang Yuan’s elder brother, came to the shop.
Jiang Tiancheng was already quite familiar with He Chen, so as soon as he entered the shop, he greeted He Chen warmly.
Then, upon seeing Ye Manman sitting at the back of the shop, he paused for a moment and then went over to greet her with a sense of familiarity.
"Hello, I’m Jiang Yuan’s brother Jiang Tiancheng. Although we haven’t met yet, a few days ago, He Chen was hugging your photo to sleep every day. No wonder he misses home looking at your picture every day; your real-life self is even prettier."
He was a bit older, nearly thirty, with a wife and children. Even though Jiang Tianrui usually appeared more mature, his personality was very bright and distinct.
And although his words seemed like a greeting, it was more like a tease, causing both He Chen and Ye Manman to blush deeply.
Ye Manman was a bit shy but wasn’t overly embarrassed. She politely poured Jiang Tiancheng a cup of water and invited him to sit down.
But He Chen was particularly shy, probably because there were two onlookers. Jiang Tianrui and Jiang Yuan were both looking at him with curious and surprised eyes, making his face turn red quickly.
He mentally noted down Jiang Tiancheng’s teasing and after exchanging some pleasantries, they got down to business.
Jiang Tiancheng came to discuss the chain store opening. Previously, he and He Chen had conducted market research in the city separately because the Jiang family’s business deals with building materials, which is different from He Chen’s.
In his eyes as the elder brother, Jiang Yuan and Jiang Tianrui were still quite young, so he was worried about them taking such a big step so suddenly.
Initially, upon hearing that the idea was proposed by He Chen’s wife, Jiang Tiancheng was a bit reluctant to accept it.
But after hearing Jiang Tianrui’s explanation, the plan to open a chain store was so enticing and more comprehensive than anything he had devised himself, that Jiang Tiancheng shamefully was tempted and was now excited, eager to implement it.
In terms of how to implement, when to go to the city again, and other details, both families discussed these for two full days. On the second day, they even ordered a table of dishes at the state-run restaurant to eat while talking.
Two days later, a representative from the city’s partner factory came over. He Chen greeted Liu Jitong and then took the person to inspect the scale and sanitation conditions of the Liu Family Farm. That evening, the three parties had a meal together and finalized the contract.
Later, He Chen went to the city a few more times, but he always returned the next day, and in less than half a month, the chain store of Sweet and Spicy Duck and the entire supply chain were on track.
As for the fried chicken store run by Jiang Yuan’s siblings, they gave it a very catchy name: "Fragrant Come Again Fried Chicken Shop."
The implication being—if the fried chicken is delicious, you’ll come again next time.
This name was actually thought up by Ye Manman on the spot at Jiang Yuan’s strong request for her to name it.
She initially wanted to come up with some humorous modern names, but seeing they didn’t quite get the jokes, she settled for a more proper name.
Jiang Yuan and her brother both liked it, so the name was finalized.
Their start was a bit slower because the fried chicken was freshly fried and sold, and it wasn’t easy to store. Therefore, they spent a lot of time choosing the chain store locations and employees and maintaining the supply chain with the Liu Family Farm.
Thankfully, the result was good; the fried chicken quickly became a sensation in the city, selling several times better than in the town because people in the city were wealthier and more willing to embrace new things.
In less than a month’s time, both families’ chain stores achieved excellent results. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
The Liu Family Farm also successfully suppressed the prices of chickens and ducks in the town, leaving the Xie Family Farm with no chance of revival.
All this happened so quickly that even though Mr. Xie and Xie Fengmian tried desperately to maintain their old clients upon noticing the Liu Family’s rise, it was all in vain.
No one would go against money, especially business people.
Businessmen won’t get up early for nothing; the Liu Family offered much lower prices, leaving them no reason not to turn to the Liu Family.
When Liu Jitong poached almost all the Xie family’s business partners, leaving the farm with unsellable chickens and ducks, Mr. Xie, overwhelmed with anger, suddenly collapsed.
