Super Rich: It all started when I met a young woman in a sleeper car.

"For example, there are four of us."

After Chen Xun finished speaking, he looked at the three girls sitting at the dining table.

Yang Xiaotao blinked: "Big brother, you mean...?"

"What I mean is, let's have a meeting today, since the store is closed," Chen Xun said. "We'll specifically discuss how to deal with that store that copied us."

Li Qian put down her chopsticks: "Okay, how do we conduct the research?"

"Let's talk inside the store," Chen Xun said, standing up. "It's not convenient here."

The four of them quickly cleaned up the dishes and went downstairs to get their car.

We arrived at the store a few minutes later.

Chen Xun hung up the "Temporarily Closed" sign and locked the door.

Four people sat around the large table in the middle.

"Tell me, big brother, what's the plan?" Lin Xinyue smoothed her red hair, looking serious.

Chen Xun took out a piece of paper and a pen.

"First of all, they copied us, so we have to upgrade," Chen Xun said. "They copied our decoration, they copied our products, so we'll do something they can't copy."

"What can't they copy?" Yang Xiaotao asked.

"The taste," Chen Xun said. "Our soup base, our ingredients, these techniques—they can't copy them."

Lin Xinyue's eyes lit up: "That's right! My secret chili sauce, they definitely can't replicate it!"

"And then there's the service," Chen Xun continued. "Our loyal customers, our repeat customers—these are relationships they can't take away."

Li Qian nodded: "That makes sense."

"So," Chen Xun wrote on the paper, "first, upgrade the product. Second, upgrade the service. Third, organize some activities that they can't keep up with."

"Specifically?" Yang Xiaotao asked.

Lin Xinyue stood up: "Wait a minute, I need to grab something first."

She walked behind the cashier and took a notebook out of the drawer.

"This is our store's ledger." Lin Xinyue opened it. "I've calculated it. Right now, the cost of a bowl of noodles is about seven and a half yuan, and we sell it for eighteen yuan, making a gross profit of ten and a half yuan. If we upgrade our products, the cost will definitely increase."

Chen Xun glanced at the ledger: "How much has it increased?"

"It depends on how you upgrade," Lin Xinyue said. "If you add better meat and better ingredients, the cost of a bowl might go up to nine or even ten dollars."

"Then the profit will be less," Yang Xiaotao said.

"But it will taste even better," Li Qian said. "Customers will be able to taste the difference."

Chen Xun thought for a moment: "It's okay if the profit is a little lower, let's keep the customers first. Once we drive that other store out of business, we can make adjustments."

"Okay." Lin Xinyue made a few notes in her notebook. "Then I'll calculate how to adjust the costs."

Li Qian spoke up: "I have an idea."

"Speak," Chen Xun said, looking at her.

"We can do limited-edition collaborations," Li Qian said. "For example, we could partner with a nearby milk tea shop to offer a set meal, or with a snack shop to offer combo discounts."

Yang Xiaotao clapped her hands: "That's great! They'd never think of that!"

"And limited editions are time-limited," Li Qian continued. "For example, one model might be released this week and taken off the shelves next week. They won't even have time to copy it."

Chen Xun nodded: "Okay, that's a good idea."

He wrote on the paper: Limited edition collaboration.

Yang Xiaotao raised her hand: "I have an idea too!"

"Speak," Chen Xun said with a smile.

"We can organize customer appreciation events," Yang Xiaotao said. "For example, if a customer makes five visits, they can get a free topping. Or they can post a check-in on WeChat Moments and get a discount."

"That's good too!" Lin Xinyue said. "If we keep our regular customers, they won't go to that other place."

Chen Xun wrote on the paper: Feedback from loyal customers.

He looked at the three girls: "Anyone else?"

The three of them thought about it and then shook their heads.

"Okay." Chen Xun put down his pen. "Then let's do it this way."

"The first step is to upgrade the soup base," Chen Xun said. "Xin Yue, you're the head chef, so you're in charge of the soup base. What ingredients are needed, and how should it be changed, is up to you."

Lin Xinyue straightened her back: "No problem!"

"The second step is the limited-edition collaboration." Chen Xun looked at Li Qian. "Li Qian, you're in charge of contacting partner businesses. Go talk to the nearby milk tea shops and snack shops."

Li Qian nodded: "Okay."

"The third step is the loyal customer activity." Chen Xun looked at Yang Xiaotao, "Xiaotao, you design the activity plan, how to give back, how to check in, you put out a detailed plan."

Yang Xiaotao nodded vigorously: "Yes!"

"And me?" Chen asked.

The three people were looking at him.

"You'll be responsible for paying," Lin Xinyue said with a smile.

"There's also coordination," Li Qian said.

"There are also food samples," Yang Xiaotao added.

Chen Xun smiled and said, "Okay, I'll take care of these."

He glanced at the plan on the paper.

"We'll start working on it this afternoon," Chen Xun said. "Xin Yue, how do you plan to upgrade the soup base?"

Lin Xinyue thought for a moment: "Our current soup base is made from beef bones, which tastes good, but it's not fresh enough. I'd like to add some chicken bones to simmer together, and also add some secret seasoning."

"What secret ingredient?" Yang Xiaotao asked curiously.

"I won't tell you," Lin Xinyue smiled mysteriously, "It's a secret recipe."

"What do I need to buy?" Chen asked.

"Chicken carcasses, beef bones, and a few spices," Lin Xinyue said. "I have the spices at home; they were sent from my aunt's hometown. The chicken carcasses and beef bones need to be bought fresh."

"Let's go buy them now." Chen Xun stood up. "Li Qian, Xiao Tao, you two stay home and design the plan. Xin Yue and I will go buy the materials."

"Okay," Li Qian and Yang Xiaotao said at the same time.

Chen Xun and Lin Xinyue drove to the vegetable market.

After buying chicken frames and beef bones, I also bought some fresh vegetables.

Back at the store, Li Qian and Yang Xiaotao had almost finished writing the proposal.

"Big brother, look." Yang Xiaotao handed a piece of paper to Chen Xun. "This is the activity plan I designed."

Chen Xun took it and looked at it.

Customer loyalty program:

1. Purchase five times and receive a free extra egg or sausage.

2. Post a check-in on WeChat Moments and show your location to receive a 2 yuan discount.

3. Bring a new friend and both of you will get a 20% discount.

"Okay," Chen Xun nodded. "Simple and direct."

Li Qian also handed over a piece of paper: "This is a list of businesses I've contacted."

The paper listed three stores:

1. Mixue Ice Cream (Milk Tea)

2. Zhengxin Chicken Cutlet (Snack)

3. A dessert shop

"I've already made some preliminary inquiries," Li Qian said. "Mixue Ice Cream and Zhengxin Chicken are interested, but I'm still considering the dessert shop."

"Okay, let's discuss the details tomorrow," Chen Xun said.

Lin Xinyue has already moved the ingredients into the kitchen.

"Come help!" she called from the kitchen.

All four of them went into the kitchen.

The kitchen is small, and it's a bit cramped for four people.

Lin Xinyue directed, "Big brother, wash the chicken carcass. Li Qian, blanch the beef bones. Xiao Tao, get the spices out."

The three people did as she said.

Chen Xun washed the chicken carcass, Li Qian boiled water to blanch the beef bones, and Yang Xiaotao took out a small cloth bag from the cupboard.

"Is that all?" Yang Xiaotao opened the cloth bag, which contained several kinds of dried spices.

"Yes." Lin Xinyue took it. "This is my family's secret recipe: star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom, and a few other ingredients."

She poured the spices into a small pot and dry-fried them.

A delicious aroma soon filled the kitchen.

"It smells so good." Yang Xiaotao sniffed.

After frying the spices, Lin Xinyue started another big pot.

She put the blanched beef bones and washed chicken carcasses into the pot, added water, and turned on the heat.

"It needs to simmer for four hours," Lin Xinyue said. "Simmering it over low heat will make the soup turn white."

"Four hours?" Yang Xiaotao checked the time. "That means we'll have to stay up until tonight."

"Then let's stay up until tonight," Chen Xun said. "We have to figure out the new soup base today."

The four of them were busy in the kitchen.

Chen Xun helped watch the fire, Li Qian tidied the kitchen, and Yang Xiaotao prepared the ingredients.

Lin Xinyue would come over from time to time to check on the soup pot, add water, and adjust the heat.

I was busy until after 3 p.m., and the water in the soup pot started to turn white.

The aroma grew stronger and stronger.

"It's almost done." Lin Xinyue tasted the soup. "It just needs to simmer for another hour."

She took out a small bowl, scooped some soup into it, and handed it to Chen Xun.

"Brother, have a taste."

Chen Xun took the bowl, blew on it, and took a sip.

The soup tastes delicious.

It's fresher and more flavorful than the original soup.

"How was it?" Lin Xinyue looked at him expectantly.

"It's delicious," Chen Xun said. "Really, it tastes much better than before."

"Let me try it, let me try it," Yang Xiaotao chimed in.

Lin Xinyue ladled a bowl for her as well.

Yang Xiaotao took a sip, her eyes widening: "Wow! Sister Xinyue, your cooking is amazing!"

Li Qian also tried it and nodded: "It's really good."

Lin Xinyue smiled, a very happy smile.

Just then, Chen Xun's phone vibrated.

He took it out to look at it.

System prompt:

[Team Collaboration Triggered]

[Targets: Lin Xinyue, Yang Xiaotao, Li Qian]

[Slight increase in overall favorability]

[Rebate amount bonus: 10%]

[Note: This is an investment opportunity triggered by the team's collaborative efforts in completing a new project.]

Chen Xun turned off the screen.

"What's wrong, brother?" Yang Xiaotao asked.

"It's nothing," Chen Xun smiled. "It's just a bank message."

He glanced at the three girls in the kitchen.

Lin Xinyue was tasting the soup, Yang Xiaotao was helping to clean up, and Li Qian was washing the pot.

Four people squeezed into this small kitchen, working towards the same goal.

This feeling is actually quite nice.

"The soup is ready." Lin Xinyue turned off the stove.

She strained the cooked soup and poured it into a large soup pot.

Then start cooking the noodles.

Four bowls of noodles, with fresh broth.

Once cooked, arrange on a plate and serve.

The four people sat down around the table.

"Let's get started," Chen Xun said.

All four people picked up their chopsticks at the same time.

They ate a few bites without saying a word.

Then Yang Xiaotao spoke first: "Delicious!"

Li Qian nodded: "It tastes a whole level better than before."

Lin Xinyue looked at Chen Xun: "Big brother, what do you think?"

Chen Xun finished all the soup in the bowl.

"We'll serve this new soup base tomorrow," he said.

Lin Xinyue smiled.

"And the price?" Yang Xiaotao asked.

Chen Xun thought for a moment: "Raise it by two yuan, then sell it for twenty."

"Okay," Lin Xinyue said. "The cost has increased by 1.5 yuan, but if we sell it for 20 yuan, we'll still make an extra 0.5 yuan in profit."

"Then it's settled," Chen Xun said. "Starting tomorrow, our store will undergo a complete upgrade."

"New soup base, new activities, new collaborations."

"Let that shop that copied us see what originality really means."

The four of them finished their noodles and cleaned up the kitchen.

It was already dark.

Chen Xun drove them back to the apartment.

On the way, Li Qian suddenly said, "Wait, I found something."

She took out her phone and opened a video.

The video shows that "Instant Noodle Research Institute".

A man speaks in front of the camera: "Family members, to celebrate our one-month anniversary, we're offering a huge discount! All our signature noodles are only 15 yuan! Add-ons are half price! This promotion lasts for a week!"

The video was posted half an hour ago.

The number of likes has exceeded 1,000.

Yang Xiaotao leaned closer to look: "They lowered the price?"

"Yes," Li Qian said, "It's dropped directly to fifteen, which is three yuan cheaper than ours."

Lin Xinyue cursed, "They really know how to play games."

Chen Xun didn't say anything and continued driving.

The car pulled up to the apartment building and parked.

The four people got off the bus and went upstairs.

Before entering, Chen Xun said, "They're lowering their prices, but we won't follow suit."

All three of them were looking at him.

"We'll stick to our original plan and launch the new product tomorrow, selling it for twenty yuan," Chen Xun said. "They're waging a price war, we're waging a quality war."

"Will it work?" Yang Xiaotao asked, a little worried.

"We'll see when we try," Chen Xun said. "Anyway, we can't let them lead us by the nose."

He took out his key and opened the door.

"Get a good rest tonight, and let's get to work tomorrow."