Jiang Che felt a mix of amusement and disbelief. Xiao Yuxia stood there, arms crossed, her face full of seriousness, as if she had just uncovered a profound truth.
He chuckled softly and decided to play along if only to end the awkward moment quickly.
"You're right!"
Jiang Che said, sighing dramatically.
Xiao Yuxia raised her eyebrows triumphantly, her confident smile growing wider.
"See? I knew it. But Jiang Che, like I said before, this isn't the time for distractions. You should focus on what's important."
Jiang Che nodded, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.
"You've got it all figured out," he said, his tone slightly teasing.
"Don't worry, I'll focus on what matters most."
Xiao Yuxia seemed pleased with his answer. She patted him lightly on the shoulder, a gesture of encouragement.
"That's the spirit. You'll thank me later."
As she turned to continue her jog, Jiang Che watched her go, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Well, let's go and make money."
He glanced at his watch, realizing he had wasted enough time on this detour.
Picking up his pace, he headed straight for the shop.
Jiang Che unlocked the shop and stepped inside, the cool morning air following him in.
The supplies they had purchased the previous day were neatly arranged in a corner, waiting to be used.
He rolled up his sleeves, feeling a sense of nostalgia as he prepared to get to work.
"Alright," he muttered to himself.
"Let's see if I still have it."
Jiang Che quickly set up the equipment: the induction stove on a sturdy table, the mixing bowls and pots neatly arranged, and the tapioca pearls soaking in warm water.
The shop smelled faintly of wood and the faint remnants of cleaning supplies from the previous tenant. Soon, it would smell of something much sweeter.
He started by brewing the tea, carefully measuring out the premium leaves they had purchased.
The tea had to be strong, and bold enough to balance the richness of the brown sugar syrup and the creamy milk.
As the water heated, Jiang Che prepared the syrup, letting the brown sugar dissolve slowly in a pot until it turned into a thick, caramel-like mixture that bubbled and released its rich, molasses-like aroma.
Next came the tapioca pearls. Jiang Che boiled them in water until they turned glossy and chewy, then transferred them into the brown sugar syrup to absorb its flavor.
As he assembled the first cup of Brown Sugar Bubble Tea, Jiang Che couldn't help but smile.
The layers came together perfectly: the dark, caramel-colored syrup swirling at the bottom of the cup, the pearls glistening like tiny jewels, and the creamy milk tea filling the rest.
He took a sip.
The sweetness of the brown sugar was perfectly balanced by the slight bitterness of the tea, and the chewy pearls added the perfect texture. It tasted just like he remembered.
( Mmmm… Perfect!)
Jiang Che thought.
( Just like my previous life.)
The sense of accomplishment filled him with pride, but there was no time to rest.
He made another batch, this time refining the process to ensure consistency. Then another, testing the balance of sweetness, tea strength, and pearl texture.
By the time the third batch was done, Jiang Che heard the sound of footsteps approaching the shop.
The door creaked open, and Zhang Wei walked in, looking groggy and slightly disheveled.
"You're early," Zhang Wei grumbled, dropping his bag onto a chair.
"And what's that smell? It's so… sweet."
"Success!"
Jiang Che replied with a grin, holding up a freshly made cup of Brown Sugar Bubble Tea.
"Here, try it."
Zhang Wei raised an eyebrow but took the cup anyway.
"Are you sure this is edible? You are not trying to poison me, are you?"
Zhang Wei asked.
Jiang Che didn't say anything and just glared at him which meant that he shouldn't stop joking around and try the tea.
He poked at the pearls with the straw, then took a cautious sip.
His eyes widened.
"This is… really good."
Zhang Wei admitted, his skepticism melting away. He took another sip, then another, and the drink quickly disappeared.
"See? I told you this would work," Jiang Che said, his grin widening.
"Now imagine how customers will feel when they try it for the first time."
Zhang Wei nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.
"If it tastes this good, I think we might actually have a chance."
Jiang Che clapped him on the back.
"Good. Now let's get everything ready. The sooner we open, the sooner we start making money."
Jiang Che wasted no time teaching Zhang Wei the basics, starting with simpler tasks like brewing tea and preparing tapioca pearls.
He explained the importance of precision and consistency, assigning Zhang Wei responsibilities he could handle while reserving the trickier aspects, like making the brown sugar syrup, for himself.
Zhang Wei fumbled at first but gradually found his rhythm under Jiang Che's watchful guidance.
After working through a few test batches, Zhang Wei finally took a breather.
"So, what's the price for this milk tea?"
He asked, holding up a freshly prepared cup.
"Twelve yuan!"
Jiang Che replied confidently.
"Twelve? Isn't that too expensive?"
Zhang Wei was surprised and skeptical. Most Milk Tea sells for around 8 Yuan and if the quality is not that great then perhaps even 3-5 Yuan.
Who the hell would pay 12 Yuan to buy a Milk Tea?
Jiang Che leaned against the counter, crossing his arms.
"Think about the quality. This isn't your average milk tea. The premium ingredients and the care we're putting in make it worth every yuan. Plus, you've seen how much the ingredients cost—this pricing isn't just fair; it's necessary."
Zhang Wei took another sip of the drink, his skepticism fading. The rich flavor and chewy pearls were undeniably special.
After a moment, he nodded.
The ingredient that they used could total up to 5-7 Yuan and if they sell for below 7 Yuan, that would basically be a loss.
Selling a unique drink for 12 Yuan, Zhang Wei was now convinced that it wasn't too expensive.
With their confidence growing and several batches of perfected Brown Sugar Bubble Tea prepared, Jiang Che and Zhang Wei decided to test their product on familiar ground—their classmates.
Jiang Che loaded the teas into a sturdy box, carefully packing each cup to avoid spills.
The rich caramel aroma filled the air, making Zhang Wei glance down at the cups with a mix of pride and nervous anticipation.
"We're really doing this."
Zhang Wei muttered as they stepped out of the shop, the morning sun casting long shadows on the street.
"Of course. Nothing like a little hands-on market research."
Jiang Che replied, adjusting the box in his arms.
"Plus, if we can sell to students, we're one step closer to capturing the local market."
The walk to campus was filled with Zhang Wei's muttered concerns.
"What if no one buys? What if they think it's overpriced? What if—"
"Relax!"
Jiang Che interrupted, shooting him a reassuring glance.
"We have a great product. Trust me, once they taste it, the price won't matter."