"Si Chen! Are you here to teach me design?" Ouyang Xin, for the first time, had her eyes peeled off the many designs that she was engrossed in, as she noticed Si Chen's presence in the store.
"Don't disturb the customers, you are the boss here. I'm just here to look around." Si Chen reminded Ouyang Xin who had slight lost her composure, and had almost practically shouted out his name, with her voice reverberating through the 4 corners of the stall.
Seeing that Ouyang Xin's face slightly sank after saying that, he offhandedly added, "And teach you a bit too since I'm already here."
These words were like an explosive trigger as Ouyang Xin smile brightened to the point of blinding his eyes.
"Go and settle the customers. I'll take a look around the store and get back to you later." Si Chen pointed towards one of the nearby customer who was holding a shirt at the counter.
"Yes, Boss!" Ouyang Xin raised her hand up in an army salute, and passionately attended to the customer.
Meanwhile, Si Chen was running his hand through the soft fabric cloths of the clothing while examining and studying them.
Other that the designs, they must also ensure that the clothes are made up of a comfortable material.
After making sure that it was of good quality, he took a brief look around the store and noted down a few of the problems within his head.
And by the time he was done, the shop was empty, and there were only a pair of hungry eyes that stared towards Si Chen as he was a prey.
"Before I teach you, first of all, we need to settle some issues that I had spotted within the shop." Si Chen raised one finger up, and commented while walking towards her.
"Boss Si Chen, what is it?" Ouyang Xin eagerly asked.
"At the left corner…" Si Chen talked for quite a long time, while he was pinpointing a few areas of the shop and gave a few detailed explanations and suggestions.
Ouyang Xin was rather enthusiastic, as she took out a piece of paper and started noting down the details.
After settling the small matters, he proceeded on to teach her design. He had gained quite a lot of knowledge regarding this area as compared to the past, so it was much easier for him to teach her and clarify the doubts she had.
When he was done, Ouyang Xin gave him a big grin while profusely thanking him, before diving into a pile of papers and trying to digest all the information she had just learnt.
Si Chen gave a simple goodbye, before he silently left the Eternal Shop.
Back in the apartment.
Si Chen was going through yet another course on the internet, this time being the Art & Design one.
The course had specified that it would probably last for around a few months, and Si Chen was about halfway done with it.
[Learning Art & Design knowledge. +1 in Art & Design knowledge]
[Learning Art & Design knowledge. +1 in Art & Design knowledge]
[Learning Art & Design knowledge. +1 in Art & Design knowledge]
Every once in a while, this notification will sound out, reminding him of the solid progress he was making.
Whenever he felt like he was tired, he would get out of the apartment and then take a break by exercising.
Afterwards, he would come back all hot and sweaty, and after taking a nice cool bath, he would be back into business again.
He had to say that his day was rather productive, and although they were some short periods of time where he was simply lazing around, he would spend most of his time on upgrading himself.
The weekend passed like that, and the weekday came right after, which implied that there was school.
And of course, until he had received the news that he was promoted to the higher grades, he was merely going to stay at home and study the things that were necessary.
He hadn't forgotten something, which was the fact that he was often fired from his part-time job after a few days in the past.
There was somebody playing behind the curtains, and when he was powerful enough, he was definitely going to find who did it.
Now, was plainly the time for him to focus on his businesses and deal with any potential enemies. The Hui Yuan Drink Store and the Seafood Restaurant was doing far too well for other competitors not to feel any threat.
How could they simply sit by and watch how they dominate the market, and snatch the customers away from them?
Si Chen, was waiting, waiting for them to retaliate. Whether it was by underhand means, or by legal and upright means, he was still waiting for it.
After a bout of studying, Si Chen went on to the main shop of the Hui Yuan Drink Store to check out how it was doing.
And the place was doing as great as he had expected it to be. Usually packed shop, and a long queue snaking at the entrance.
This main shop had been settled down in this district for a longer time than the branch shop, so it was natural for its reputation and fame to spread far and wide, making it a sort of a habit for customers to come over.
He looked around for a while, along with casually listening to the conversations the customers were having with each other, and he was pleased to know that their drink store has already been predominantly labelled as their go-to drink store.
Si Chen also went over to the branch shop, and although there were not as many customers than as in the main shop, it was still a considerable amount.
Actually, the profits between the main shop and branch shop was not much different, because they were located in different districts.
The main shop was situated at District E, while the branch shop was situated at District D.
Because those within District D were mainly better in economic status than those living in District E, the prices were also higher in District D to cater to the difference in financial ability.
Maybe it was time for them to build another branch shop, and this time within District C. Si Chen wondered to himself.
Of course, there was also another option, which was to rent a few shops around District D so that they could single-handedly dominate the drinks competition in District D.
But that could attract too much unwanted attention.
And this was when he had abruptly thought of an idea.
What if he bought off another drink store business, launch a few high-quality drinks, and then expand it throughout District D?
This way, the Hui Yuan Drink Store and the other drink store business will become rivals, in the eyes of the other competitor's businesses.
He would then create a false impression that both the Hui Yuan Drink Store and the other drink store business he bought off are most hated enemies, and because of this impression, it was most likely that the other competitor's businesses would either back off from the fight, or secretly support either side.
Of course, most of the drink businesses would just sit back, and wait for both sides to incur losses, before they sweep up the entire market.
And when both the Hui Yuan Drink Store and the other drink store gets a hold of a great share of the customers, he would then shock everybody and not leave them any chance to react, by announcing a cooperation between both of them.
This way, was the safest way he could think of to dominate the drinks market, by playing around with his competitors' minds, and then catching them by surprise.
He contemplated on this idea for a while, before he decided to carry out his plan.
But first, he had to deal with some matters first.
Taking his phone out of his pocket, he dialed Yang Deng's number. The phone got connected a while later, and Si Chen dived straight into the reason he called.
"Yang Deng, help me to check out a few other locations within District D to expand our business. Also, search up for suitable locations within District C too." Si Chen directly instructed.
"Okay, Boss Si." Yang Deng promptly replied, and he paused for a while before saying, "Boss Si, I have not received any response from the Northwest Drinks yet. And the new specialty drink will be launched out tomorrow."
"Okay, I got it." Si Chen simply answered back, then hung up the call.
He put his phone back into his pocket, and walked to the street side to hail a cab.
His next destination, was the Seafood Restaurant.
At the main shop of the Seafood Restaurant.
Si Chen examined and studied the exterior designs of the restaurant in satisfaction. He had sent a few designs to Fang Bin on email, and asked him to touch up on the current designs.
After some light renovations that did not affect too much of their business, this was the result of it all. He was pleasantly pleased to see it, and with a light smile on his face, he walked straight into the restaurant.
It was not the lunch period yet, so there weren't that many customers.
The waiters working there noticed Si Chen, whose features were rather prominent and distinctive, and led him to a seat with utmost respect.
He ordered a few dishes for him to taste out, and after determining that the quality of the food had not dropped, he ordered some dishes to takeaway.