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On the day of its trial opening, "Ningjing Zhiyuan" did not make a big fuss about advertising, but its exquisite storefront, unique name, and the curiosity accumulated during the early stages of renovation still attracted many customers.

Among them were some prominent figures in the ancient city...

The group included government officials and cultural bureau staff, a locally well-known writer, and several businessmen who were clearly from wealthy families.

Whether out of curiosity, recommendation, or mainly due to an invitation from Suning, they stepped into this elegant space that was quiet amidst the hustle and bustle.

Suning, dressed in a well-tailored suit, personally greeted them at the door.

His composed demeanor and refined speech, neither overly enthusiastic nor lacking in a warm and respectful manner, left a deep first impression on these well-traveled guests.

But the real surprises begin when guests step inside the store.

The interior design abandons the noise and complexity of traditional restaurants, adopting a minimalist new Chinese style.

The wooden tables and chairs have a warm, smooth feel, and the walls are decorated with reproductions of landscape paintings with profound artistic conception. The green plants are arranged in a pleasing manner, and the overall atmosphere is tranquil and Zen-like.

The place makes guests unconsciously lower their voices and calm their minds.

Guided by Suning's philosophy of "ingredients as the foundation and seasoning as simple as possible," the head chef performed exceptionally well.

The dishes not only emphasize the perfect combination of color, aroma, taste and shape, but also stress the original flavor of the ingredients themselves.

A seemingly ordinary clear soup is made by carefully simmering spring water and old hen with Jinhua ham for several hours. It is crystal clear, yet fresh and mellow. A seasonal vegetable dish is cooked to perfection, preserving its crispness and sweetness to the greatest extent.

This relentless pursuit of quality has given diners, who are used to heavy oil and salt, a refreshing experience and an unprecedented enjoyment for their taste buds.

However, what truly amazed and captivated all guests, regardless of their expertise, was the music that permeated the entire space.

The "secret weapon" audio system assembled by Suning has finally shown its power.

The moment an original record was gently placed into the record player and the notes began to flow, the entire restaurant seemed to be enchanted.

For discerning customers, their eyes widened instantly, and they almost forgot to pick up their chopsticks.

The sound resolution is extremely high, and the instruments are positioned so clearly that it's as if they are playing right in front of you; the soundstage is wide and deep, as if the small restaurant has been transformed into a concert hall; the low frequencies are deep and powerful without being muddy, and the high frequencies are extended and bright without being harsh.

Especially when playing classical music, the rich details and vast dynamic range allowed them to hear many subtle nuances that were impossible to detect on ordinary equipment, striking straight to the depths of their souls.

For most guests who don't understand music, they may not be able to explain it, but their bodies and most direct feelings don't lie.

The music didn't seem to be "played" from a speaker; rather, it seemed to "grow" naturally in the air, creating a harmonious, warm, and moving sound.

Conversations became whispered, and eating became unconsciously graceful; the whole being was immersed in this indescribably comfortable atmosphere.

Music seems to have a magical power, soothing daily anxieties and bringing long-lost tranquility and joy.

Unbeknownst to many, this top-of-the-line audio system and the extraordinary auditory experience it delivers have become the most captivating "invisible brand" and biggest selling point of "Tranquility Leads to Far-Reaching Vision".

What guests spread the word about was not only the elegant environment and the excellent food, but also "a sound system that makes your soul leave your body".

"High-class" status is a universally accepted qualification in any era.

Once material enjoyment reaches a certain level, unique spiritual experiences become a higher pursuit.

With its unparalleled acoustic advantages, "Ningjing Zhiyuan" has successfully established a unique image of high quality and style in the ancient city's catering industry, attracting a specific group of people who pursue quality of life and value spiritual enjoyment.

Standing in a slightly secluded corner, Su Ning looked at the expressions of delight, amazement, or satisfaction on the faces of the guests, and knew that his strategy had begun to work.

All he needs to do now is wait patiently.

We await the guest who is most discerning about sound and best understands its value, who will be naturally drawn in by this "heavenly sound".

……

On the afternoon of the trial opening of "Ningjing Zhiyuan", the number of customers gradually increased.

As Suning was exchanging pleasantries with an elderly gentleman from the cultural world, he caught a glimpse of two ladies entering through the door.

When he saw the person's face clearly, a slight tremor ran through his heart...

It turned out to be Ouyang Xue, the proprietress of the neighboring "Yafengju", and her uniquely elegant best friend, Rui Xiaodan.

The saying "rivals in the same trade are enemies" holds some truth in any industry.

In particular, "Yafengju" is located on a street corner not far away, and its positioning is considered mid-to-high-end, making it arguably the most direct competitor.

Their appearance did indeed surprise Suning.

Is it just curiosity, or are they here to test the waters?

Thoughts raced through her mind, but Su Ning's face instantly broke into a warm and sincere smile as she quickly stepped forward: "Mr. Ouyang, Ms. Rui, welcome, welcome! It's truly an honor to have such distinguished guests at our humble establishment!"

Ouyang Xue remained as shrewd and capable as ever, with the enigmatic smile typical of business people on her face: "Mr. Su, you're too kind. We heard that your 'Tranquility and Far-Reaching Vision' restaurant has an extraordinary style during its trial operation, so we came here to learn from you."

As he spoke, his eyes quickly scanned the store's decor and customer traffic.

Rui Xiaodan, standing to the side, reacted completely differently from Ouyang Xue from the moment she stepped into the store.

She didn't even have time to respond to Su Ning's greeting; she was frozen in place as if she had been struck by a spell.

At that moment, the top-of-the-line sound system in the store was playing a record that Suning had found in Ding Yuanying's collection...

A pure, ethereal female voice, seemingly untouched by any worldly dust, sings "Daughter of Heaven".

The sound, amplified and refined through Suning's meticulously tuned system, possessed unparalleled penetrating power and captivating appeal.

It doesn't simply spread through the air; rather, it's like a clear spring, flowing directly into the listener's heart; and like a ray of light, it instantly illuminates a corner of the soul that has never been touched before.

Rui Xiaodan's eyes widened slightly, forgetting everything around her.

She wasn't unfamiliar with music, but she had never had such an experience.

This sound strips away all the ostentation of technique and the incitement of emotion, leaving only the most essential, pure and sacred essence that reaches the very origin of life.

It gave her a strange shock, a tremor of soul being cleansed, and even... her eyes felt slightly hot.

"Xiao Dan? Xiao Dan?" Ouyang Xue noticed her friend's unusual behavior and gently touched her arm.

Rui Xiaodan suddenly snapped out of her daze, realizing her lapse in composure. A barely perceptible blush crossed her face, and she quickly smiled apologetically at Su Ning: "I'm sorry, Mr. Su. This music... is too special."

Su Ning took in her reaction and understood. He smiled and explained, "Miss Rui is a music connoisseur. The store's stereo is playing an original record called 'Daughter of Heaven'."

“This sound system…” Rui Xiaodan’s eyes involuntarily searched for the source of the sound, her face full of amazement. “I have never heard such a sound before. It feels… not like listening to a record, but like the singer is standing right in front of me.”

Although Ouyang Xue wasn't particularly sensitive to music, seeing Rui Xiaodan's reaction and the other customers' absorbed expressions, she realized the extraordinary nature of the sound system and remarked, "Boss Su, you've really gone all out with the equipment in this store! Just the sound alone is enough to attract a lot of customers."

Su Ning smiled modestly, "Mr. Ouyang, you flatter me. It's just a personal hobby; I feel a good environment needs good sound to complement it. Please come in and have a seat, try our chef's cooking, and feel free to offer your valuable feedback." Rui Xiaodan's gaze kept drifting towards the hidden speakers, clearly still preoccupied with the music.

Ouyang Xue focused more on the menu and in-store service details, and began talking with Suning:

"Boss Su has chosen a good name for the shop, 'Tranquility leads to far-reaching goals,' which complements the environment and the music perfectly."

"You flatter me. I just hope to provide a place where guests can calm down, enjoy a meal, and listen to music."

"That's a good idea. Most restaurants on the market are noisy and chaotic these days, Mr. Su, you've really taken a different approach." Ouyang Xue's tone shifted slightly, tinged with a hint of probing, "However, with such a high positioning, the cost pressure must be considerable, right?"

Suning responded calmly: "It's alright. Everyone has their own way of doing business. I believe there will always be some customers who are willing to pay for a better experience and value."

As the conversation continued, the last note of "Daughter of Heaven" slowly faded away, and the store fell into a brief, lingering silence.

Rui Xiaodan seemed to have just woken up from a dream, letting out a long sigh of relief. Her gaze towards Su Ning held a newfound sincerity of appreciation and curiosity.

She had a vague feeling that this seemingly gentle and refined young boss was not as simple as he appeared.

This "Tranquility Leads to Far-Reaching Vision" and its owner may bring some unexpected waves to the ancient city.

……

Seeing that Rui Xiaodan was still immersed in the lingering melody of "Daughter of Heaven," while Ouyang Xue was occasionally surveying the store environment and customer flow with a professional gaze, Su Ning gestured to the capable female store manager next to her and whispered, "Take Boss Ouyang and Miss Rui to the 'Listening to the Rain Pavilion' private room and treat them well."

"Please follow me, ladies." The shop manager smiled politely and led them through the hall.

On her way to the private room, Ouyang Xue keenly noticed that the guests at the next table who were talking in hushed tones had a distinct air of government officials about them, and one of them was even a district leader she had met at an investment promotion conference.

Her heart skipped a beat, and considering the store's location, ambiance, and extraordinary sound system, she instantly understood:

This "Ningjing Zhiyuan" is probably more than just a restaurant; it has become an invisible social space.

Being able to attract this level of customers means that it has firmly established itself and may even possess a "moat" that ordinary restaurants can hardly match.

She glanced at Rui Xiaodan, who was still deep in thought beside her, and felt a mix of emotions.

Just as Ouyang Xue was weighing her options, the light at the restaurant entrance dimmed, and a figure strolled in unhurriedly.

It was Ding Yuanying.

He was still wearing an ordinary dark jacket, his attire somewhat out of place in this rather elegant environment, but his detached and relaxed demeanor made him appear completely at ease.

His arrival went largely unnoticed, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.

However, as he stepped into the hall, a detail from a symphony being played by the top-of-the-line sound system...

The strings have a tangible quality, the wind section is clearly positioned, and the bass is deep and resonant.

Like an invisible net, it instantly captured his entire mind.

Ding Yuanying stopped in his tracks instinctively. He turned his head slightly, closed his eyes, and listened intently for a good ten seconds.

His usual calm was replaced by a look of extreme surprise, or even shock.

He considers himself to be almost obsessed with audio equipment, and he plays with it to a "wicked" degree, sparing no expense in pursuing the ultimate sound reproduction.

But the sound that reached his ears at that moment was so pure, dense, dynamic range and spatial that it completely surpassed all his previous understanding!
This is no longer a difference between "good" and "better", but an improvement in dimensionality.

He originally thought he was unrivaled in the ancient city, but he never expected there were mountains beyond mountains, and he met a true master here.

At this moment, Su Ning had already noticed him and greeted him with a smile: "Mr. Ding, you've arrived."

Ding Yuanying opened his eyes and looked at Su Ning with a complicated expression, scrutinizing the young man for the first time in a truly meaningful way.

“Boss Su,” he gestured around, his tone unusually wistful, “your setup is a bit… scary.”

Su Ning smiled modestly: "It's just a personal hobby, I'm just showing off my limited skills. Mr. Ding, this way please."

Instead of leading Ding Yuanying to the main hall or a regular private room, he led him through a quiet corridor and pushed open a heavy solid wood door.

Inside the door is a more private space with more sophisticated acoustics.

This place is not open to the public; it is a "listening room" and tea room prepared by Suning for itself and its truly important guests.

It has excellent sound insulation; once the door is closed, external noise is almost completely blocked out.

Once seated, there was no need for small talk; the conversation naturally revolved around music and sound technology.

Ding Yuanying is an expert in this field. He is very knowledgeable about various equipment, cables, and acoustic environments, and his views are insightful.

At first, he approached it with a sense of exploration and examination.

But soon, as the conversation deepened, some concepts that Su Ning occasionally mentioned completely overturned Ding Yuanying's understanding.

Instead of boasting about specific brand models in later generations, Suning proposed some ideas that seemed like "pipe dreams" in 1996, but were logically consistent, based on more fundamental physical principles, circuit design concepts, and the future possibilities of digital signal processing.

For example, a profound understanding of the impact of "time base error," an advanced analysis of the transmission characteristics of conductors made of different materials, and an extreme emphasis on the concept that "power supply purity is the cornerstone of sound"...

These views go far beyond the scope of discussions among mainstream audiophiles today; they are more like a scientist well-versed in electronic engineering and physical acoustics, outlining a blueprint for the future.

Ding Yuanying became increasingly alarmed as he listened. He realized that he was not communicating with an ordinary audiophile, but listening to a "preacher" whose vision was far ahead of his time.

His prized knowledge system appears somewhat pale and limited in the face of Suning's groundbreaking and insightful concepts.

This isn't about the price difference between good and bad equipment; it's about a crushing difference in perception.

What was originally intended as a peer exchange turned into a one-sided ideological baptism.

Ding Yuanying's gaze toward Su Ning gradually shifted from initial surprise and admiration to a solemnity and reverence befitting a true sage.

He raised his glass and said sincerely, "Boss Su, I, Ding Yuanying, have truly broadened my horizons today. A single conversation with you is worth more than ten years of study. I thought I was quite knowledgeable, but it turns out I was still just a frog in a well."

Su Ning raised his glass and lightly clinked it with his, smiling as he said, "Mr. Ding, you are too modest. It was just a friendly exchange. True friends are hard to find, and it is my honor to meet a like-minded person like Mr. Ding."

Inside the private room, the aroma of wine filled the air, and two souls from different eras resonated deeply with each other because of their shared pursuit of the ultimate sound.

For Ding Yuanying, Su Ning, and the unfathomable depths he represented, intrigued him more than any beautiful music.

"Mr. Su, I never expected you to be the one who truly understands music."

"Mr. Ding, you flatter me! I hope you will come to offer your corrections more often in the future."

"Mr. Su, you're too kind."

...(End of chapter)