Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

For the next two weeks, Shen Qiongju practically spun herself around like a top.

Master Lu is an impatient man and a craftsman who is obsessed with his craft.

Ever since Shen Qiongju drew the sketch of the Qionghua Pavilion branch in the prefectural city, the old man has been working up a lot of energy.

They would block Shen Qiongju's door every day, arguing with her about the direction of the corridor and the orientation of the restaurant's main entrance.

Master Lu pointed at the blueprints, spitting as he spoke.

Fortunately, the blueprints for the prefectural branch were finally finalized, and Master Lu and Shen Song were seen off. Shen Qiongju breathed a sigh of relief.

The renovation of the Fucheng branch will take about a month. Time is money, but fortunately, construction has already begun.

Next was the renovation of the inn next to Qionghua Pavilion.

It's a huge construction site now.

Although Master Lu's young apprentice was young, he was obedient and quick-witted.

Shen Qiongju wanted to turn this into an inn, but not the kind with large dormitory-style rooms.

She wants to build "themed rooms," such as "The Top Scholar's Room," "Perfect Harmony Room," and "Extreme Wealth Room."

Each room should have a different style, even the bed curtains and tea sets should match.

"Boss, isn't your idea... a bit too expensive?"

The young apprentice's hands trembled as he looked at the list filled with requirements.

"This wallpaper has to be made of brocade? And these floor tiles have to be made of ground bluestone?"

"You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub."

Shen Qiongju held a charcoal pencil and sketched on a piece of scrap paper. "We make money off those rich people. What they lack isn't money, but face and novelty."

This was inspired by Hengniang back then, but Hengniang was much bolder. Her designs were things like "Liang Zhu Listening to the Qin," "A Couple in Reflection," and "Crossing the Star Bridge," which were not intended for unmarried people. The furnishings inside were also blush-inducing.

Back then, many wealthy young men with a penchant for novelty would book rooms here year-round. Although it was criticized, it was extremely popular and profitable.

As she was speaking, the pen in her hand suddenly stopped, and she nodded, almost hitting her head on the table.

She was so tired that she hadn't slept for more than three hours in the past few days.

Seeing this, the young apprentice felt a little sorry for him: "Master, why don't you go and rest for a while? I'll keep an eye on things here."

Shen Qiongju shook her head, forcibly dispelling her sleepiness.

"It's alright, let's finish fixing this first."

We're working on the hardware, and we're not neglecting the software either.

Every night after Qionghua Pavilion closes for the day, dozens of bright glass lamps are lit in the lobby.

This wasn't for business purposes, but rather for "training".

The main door was tightly shut, and the windows were covered by thick curtains.

In the center of the lobby stood two rows of waiters in brand-new uniforms.

This uniform was designed by Shen Qiongju herself.

No longer the dull, gray shorts, but instead, a glossy satin fabric was chosen.

The male waiter wore navy blue, and the female waiter wore mauve.

The cuffs were embroidered with the three small characters "Qionghua Pavilion" in gold thread, and a uniform silk sash was tied around the waist.

The moment I put it on, my energy and spirit were completely different.

"Stand up straight, all of you!"

Cui Ya held a thin bamboo stick in her hand and paced back and forth at the front of the line.

She is now the manager of this lobby, and her fierce and assertive personality is surprisingly effective in management.

"Laugh! Everyone, laugh!"

Cui Ya lightly tapped the shoulder of a stern-faced waiter with a bamboo stick. "Is that a smile? That's a funeral! Customers come to spend money, not to see your grumpy face!"

"The boss said, what is a customer?"

"Customers are our greatest source of wealth!"

Dozens of people shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the lobby.

Shen Qiongju sat behind the counter, holding a cup of strong tea in her hands, and nodded with satisfaction.

This brainwashing... oh no, this restaurant culture building, while not as professional as Hengniang was back then, can be considered as initial success.

I don't know what tricks Hengniang has up her sleeve; with this kind of service, who wouldn't want to come in and have a couple of drinks?

"Shouting slogans is useless; we need real combat experience."

Shen Qiongju put down her teacup and clapped her hands.

Solan immediately understood and came down the stairs with his pipa in his arms.

She wasn't wearing her dance costume today; instead, she changed into men's clothing, put on a small mustache, and dressed up as a difficult customer.

"Ugh, what a lousy place this is!"

Solan swaggered over to a table, put one foot on a stool, and slammed the pipa onto the table.

"Waiter! Where have you been? Can't you see I'm coming?"

A young waiter quickly approached, a smile plastered on his face: "Hello, sir. How many of you are in your party? What would you like to drink?"

"What should I drink? I want your most expensive wine! And I want to hear some music!"

Solan's performance was so vivid; his nouveau riche attitude made you want to punch him.

The young waiter was clearly unaccustomed to such a scene and was slightly taken aback.

"Snapped!"

Cui Ya's bamboo stick struck the pillar next to her.

"What are you standing there for? What should you say in a situation like this? Refer to rule number three in the training manual!"

The young man shuddered and immediately came to his senses.

He didn't panic, but instead bowed slightly, maintaining a polite smile.

"Sir, you have excellent taste. Our most expensive piece at Qionghua Pavilion, 'Drunken Beauty,' is praised even by the Emperor. As for music, we have both elegant music and storytelling here. Our girls are all professionals from the Imperial Music Bureau, and we only sell our skills. If you would like to listen to music, I will arrange the best private seat for you right away."

These words flattered the guest, subtly deflected the unreasonable request, and were still polite.

"There's been progress." Shen Qiongju led the applause.

"Her handling was appropriate, neither servile nor arrogant. Make a note of that; her bonus this month will be increased by two taels of silver!"

Upon hearing that there was money to be made, the other men's eyes lit up like wolves.

"Next scene!"

Shen Qiongju stood up and walked to the center of the hall.

"What if a guest gets drunk, vomits all over the place, and then points their finger at you and curses at you?

The entire room fell into a deathly silence.

This is the toughest nut to crack.

"I'll do it!"

The boy who had been promoted by Shen Qiongju stepped forward from the group.

His original name was Erdan, but he has now changed it to Shen Lin.

Shen An walked up to Shen Qiongju and bowed deeply.

"If a guest gets drunk, it's because our wine is good. If a guest curses, it's because he's suffering and comes here to vent."

"We won't argue with him or make a scene. First, we'll offer him a cup of hot tea, then wipe his face with a hot towel. If he vomits, we'll clean him up immediately without saying a word, and even ask, 'Sir, are you feeling unwell? Would you like some hangover soup?'"

"As long as we play the grandson to the end and make him comfortable, he'll feel guilty when he sobers up and will come back to spend a lot of money next time!"

These words left Shen Qiongju speechless.

This kid is simply a born talent in the service industry!

"He's talented."

Shen Qiongju immediately approved, "Shen Lin, starting tomorrow, you will be the supervisor of this lobby. If you do a good job, when the branch in the prefectural city opens, you will be the second manager there!"

Shen Lin was so excited that his face turned red, and he knelt down with a thud.

"Thank you so much for your guidance, employer!"

She continued, "Providing good service doesn't mean blindly accommodating customers. If you encounter anyone who tries to cheat or cause trouble, you must report it to Manager Cui immediately. If the situation is serious, you should report it to the authorities first. The county government's patrol team passes by our Qionghua Pavilion three times a day. If you need anything, you can ask for help."

"I know it will be tiring for everyone to provide this kind of service, but the higher the service quality, the higher the pay. After this training, everyone's pay will be doubled, and monthly bonuses will be calculated separately."

A young man said excitedly, "This request is nothing. I used to work as a servant for the landlord's son. I was exhausted every day and was beaten and scolded. The wages were also low. Our master is kind and generous. I will definitely work hard."

The others chimed in, "That's right, boss, don't worry, we'll do our best."

Looking at those energetic faces, Shen Qiongju's fatigue vanished.