All the heavens begin with the love in the courtyard.

Meng Xiaoxing quickly replied.

"How could that be? We only have a three-day holiday. Sir, you look familiar. You must have come here often for our soup before!"

The old man nodded and said.

"Of course, I've been drinking at your shop for almost half a month now. But I haven't been here for a while. I passed by here the day before yesterday and saw that the door was closed. I thought you had closed down!"

As they were talking, Taozi brought the soup to the old man, put down the bowl, and the old man picked up the spoon and began to drink.

The old man had just finished his first sip when a satisfied expression appeared on his face. He shook his head and sighed with satisfaction.

"Your soup is still the best. I've been drinking free soup for a week now, and it's raised my blood pressure. What nourishing effect does that soup have? The more I drink, the tighter my chest feels!"

When Han Chunming heard that a customer had arrived, he came out of the kitchen. Upon hearing the old man's words, he quickly went up to him with a smile and said something.

"Sir, you have excellent taste. Our soup is expensive, but there's a reason for it. It's a truly nourishing soup. Sir, I also know a bit about traditional Chinese medicine. Shall I take your pulse?"

The old man nodded, then finished the soup in the small bowl, savored the taste, and felt the warm current rising in his chest. He couldn't help but sigh once again.

"Good stuff is just different, it feels so good. Boss, come here, can you take a look at me? I've been feeling tightness in my chest for the past few days, and my blood pressure has gone up!"

Han Chunming sat down, smiled, and placed his hand on the old man's pulse to feel it slightly. Then, a smile appeared on his lips, and he nodded to the old man.

"Sir, this is an old problem of yours. You can't eat just anything anymore. You have to be more careful in the future!"

The old man nodded in empathy and said...

"Yes, I've seen several soup shops open nearby recently, and they all have that free soup promotion. I was tempted to try it out, but the soup made my chest feel tight, and I couldn't sleep for several nights. You really shouldn't drink free stuff!"

Han Chunming smiled without saying a word, exchanged a few polite words with the old man, and saw him off. Then, standing at the shop entrance, he looked at the flow of people coming and going from his competitor's side across the street and couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. The real show was just beginning!

Han Chunming just checked the old man's pulse and has basically confirmed that the group of elderly people who initially drank the free soup have gradually started to experience discomfort.

Although it's not life-threatening, elderly people can't withstand much stress, and they'll soon realize what the culprit is.

The case of the old man is an isolated incident because he already has various chronic ailments. Soon, as more and more elderly people experience similar conditions, everyone will naturally remember the benefits of Han Chunming's soup shop.

And most importantly, as long as they come back to drink this soup again, it will have an immediate effect and can quickly restore their damaged bodies.

The old man's comfortable expression just now said it all, which is also the real reason why Han Chunming remained seated.

With a unique business, there's no fear of competition. The more counterfeit soup shops appear, the more advantageous it is for Han Chunming. The more poison there is, the more precious the antidote becomes.

Han Chunming returned to the shop full of high spirits, but when he looked up, he saw several people sitting at the table, looking completely listless.

As the old man left, everyone's faces fell into a slump once again, clearly showing that they still had no confidence in the future business of this shop.

Han Chunming had the illusion that he was the only one who was sober while everyone else was drunk.

However, Han Chunming didn't want to say more about this. It wouldn't make a difference if he said more now, since the trend of giving away free soup hadn't subsided yet. Those elderly folks who were trying to take advantage of the situation hadn't gotten enough of the benefits. He would wait until the hype died down before making any further comments.

Sure enough, business didn't pick up overnight. Half an hour passed after the old man left, and still no other customers came into the shop.

During this time, the eldest sister-in-law brought the second brother into the shop. The two of them were covered in sweat and sat down to drink a glass of water.

Seeing how dismal the business was in the shop, the second brother couldn't hide the schadenfreude on his lips.

Seeing everyone with their heads hanging low, the two didn't dare to say anything sarcastic. They greeted Han Chunming and asked Xiao Xing and Song Hongjiang to help out at their shop.

Seeing the dejected expressions on Xiaoxing and the others' faces, Han Chunming decided to avoid the trouble and asked Xiaozao to help out as well, leaving himself and Taozi in the shop.

My siblings' soup shop is also bustling with activity right now. They've brought over all sorts of earthenware pots, pans, and bowls today, and the shop is packed with activity.

After the others left, Han Chunming saw that it was almost noon, so he went to a nearby restaurant, bought two bottles of baijiu and a few side dishes, and sat down with Taozi at the table to drink slowly.

Although Taozi was also a little anxious, seeing Han Chunming's unhurried demeanor, he chose to trust him. The two of them ate some snacks and drank some wine slowly.

As the two were eating, they saw a tall, middle-aged woman leading a somewhat hunched, white-haired old man into the shop.

As soon as the older woman entered the store, she shouted at Han Chunming in her distinctive loud voice.

"Young boss, I'm here to patronize your business again!"

Han Chunming looked up and exclaimed, "Oh my, this is the real old customer, the loud-voiced auntie who has always supported my business!"

However, just a few days ago, this loud-voiced aunt also joined the crowd of people drinking free soup, so when Han Chunming looked back now, he wasn't surprised at all.

This was something Han Chunming had anticipated. As for the reason, one only needs to look at the white-haired old man behind her to know.

Han Chunming quickly stood up with a smile, and while arranging for the elderly men and women to sit down, he said warmly.

"Auntie, welcome, welcome! Come, come, please have a seat. It's been quite a while since you've been to my shop!"

The older woman sat down, glanced at the older man behind her with a resentful look, and then said with a grumbling tone.

"Isn't there no other way? I've taken your uncle to try several kidney-tonifying and liver-protecting soups lately, but they're all fake, just a bunch of charlatans."

It's cheap, but it doesn't work at all. Your uncle's health is getting worse the more he drinks it. He just came back from the hospital and happened to be passing by your place. He saw you were open, so he came up to check on you!

Han Chunming turned his head and glanced at the white-haired old man sitting next to him. Sure enough, upon closer inspection, the old man looked increasingly haggard, his eyes were sunken, and his complexion was getting worse!

Han Chunming smiled and echoed the old lady while gesturing for the old man to extend his hand to him. The old lady knew very well that Han Chunming was quite skilled, and when she saw him taking her pulse, she didn't disturb him but instead looked on with anticipation.

Han Chunming took the old man's pulse, and the old man's weak pulse startled Han Chunming. It was almost a completely drained pulse. He silently mourned for the old man for three minutes in his heart.

The older woman, however, had bright, swollen eyes and asked with an eager expression.

"Young boss, how's my old man doing? Do you have any nourishing dishes in your shop? Make some for him to help him recover. He's been so weak and listless these past few days. I should have known better than to take him to those free soup places!"

Han Chunming cleared his throat and sighed.

"Auntie, I'm telling you the truth, please don't be angry. The old man's pulse is really too weak. Drinking soup is only treating the symptoms, not the root cause. He still needs to rest. I think you should be understanding of him. It would be best if he didn't have any more of that kind of thing for the next six months... for the next year!"

As soon as Han Chunming finished speaking, the middle-aged woman's face turned from sunny to gloomy at a visible speed, her expression darkening as if the sky were about to fall.

She glanced at Han Chunming with an uncertain look, then at the listless old man sitting beside her. Her gaze was somewhat frightening, as if she were looking at a class enemy, which made Han Chunming quickly look away.

The old man was clearly somewhat afraid of the old woman, but upon hearing Han Chunming's words, a hint of joy appeared in his eyes. However, upon seeing the old woman's gaze, he quickly suppressed his excitement, revealing a listless appearance, and sighed as he spoke to her.

"I told you, I'm physically weak, and my back has been hurting these past few days. You still keep going on and on, you won't be satisfied until you've worn me out!"

Hearing the old man's words, the old woman felt utterly humiliated, stood up abruptly, and yelled at him.

"Wang Jinsheng, marrying you is the worst thing that ever happened to me! What sins did I commit in this life to end up with a sickly man like you? Oh God, why won't you open your eyes? Oh God, why won't you open your eyes? Oh God!"

After the old lady made a scene, Han Chunming knew that the two of them couldn't continue their business!

Sure enough, when the old man saw the old woman yelling, he turned pale and felt ashamed to make a scene in front of these two young people, so he turned around and left.

Seeing the old man leave, the old woman glanced at Han Chunming with a hint of reluctance, but in the end, she followed the old man's retreating figure and left.

Han Chunming watched the two figures walk away, sighed helplessly, turned around and sat down, then said to Taozi, who looked completely bewildered.

"If this old man keeps going like this, he probably won't live more than three months!"

Taozi was also taken aback when he heard Han Chunming's words. He looked up at the old woman's back and asked in surprise.

"Is this woman really that amazing?"

Han Chunming said irritably.

"That's just one reason. This old man had health problems when he was young, so he was already weaker than the average person. And after being tormented by this old woman for decades, even the strongest ox would be worn out!"

Taozi picked up his wine glass, drank it all in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and said with emotion.

"People like this, comparing yourself to others is just infuriating!"

Han Chunming rolled his eyes at Taozi helplessly, continued drinking, and ignored the matter. However, he did not expect that Taozi's words would actually come true.

That old man really didn't make it past three months, not even a month. He died at the end of the month, and his death was the final straw that broke the camel's back for those knock-off soup shops.

Han Chunming's shop continued to have a dismal business. He only made one order in the morning and three orders in the afternoon. Today, he only made four yuan in sales and lost two hundred yuan!

The next day, business was better. There were five orders in the morning and nine orders in the afternoon. All of these people had drunk the counterfeit tonic soup. The more they drank, the more uncomfortable they felt. In the end, they turned back and returned to Han Chunming's embrace.

However, the number of customers was still dismal, but Han Chunming was not in a hurry. He could afford to lose this amount of money, and time would tell!

On the third, fourth, and fifth days, business remained dismal, but some regular customers gradually returned.

On the fifth day, not only did he sell more than forty yuan, but he also received another order for a postpartum tonic soup for eight yuan and eighty cents, which made Taozi very happy.

However, business declined again on the sixth day because Han Chunming's brother and sister's soup shop also opened that day!

They're all on the same street, and although the location is a bit out of the way, the three-day free soup promotion still attracted a lot of customers to the street.

Even the older siblings used a little trick, using the excuse that they were too busy with the opening to invite all five people from Han Chunming's shop to come over.

Han Chunming really didn't want to go, but since even his mother went, he had no choice but to go.

As a result, many regular customers thought this was his branch when they saw Han Chunming. In addition, he was giving away free soup, buns and steamed bread, so many regular customers lined up again. Han Chunming didn't know how to explain.

You can't exactly stand at the door of someone's new business and say, "Don't come for soup!"

So on this day, Han Chunming's soup shop suffered another bleak day, while his brother and sister were overwhelmed with work. Eight people, plus a few of his brother and sister who had taken leave, made up a dozen people working in the shop from morning until noon without taking a break.

In the kitchen, four people were making steamed buns and mantou (steamed bread), and they were working non-stop. The steamer baskets were steaming hot, and they were carrying basket after basket of steamed buns and mantou outside. This attracted all the pedestrian traffic on the street.

None of the siblings had any business experience, but when they heard that there were free steamed buns and mantou, many elderly people rushed in like a whirlwind to grab them, grabbing one basket after another as soon as they were served.

The shop was large, with twelve tables all occupied, and the bustling crowd gave the illusion of a throng of guests.

Free things are always tempting. The brothers and sisters worked hard all day, and when they finished their work in the evening, they did the math. Good heavens, they had used several bags of flour that day. Adding in other expenses, they were all stunned when they calculated the cost.

On the very first day of the shop's opening, the siblings had a serious disagreement. The second brother firmly disagreed and insisted on continuing the free promotion, even though they were losing several hundred yuan a day. Who could stand doing that?

But the sign had already been put up, so they couldn't just stop. Despite the second brother's strong dissatisfaction, everyone decided to continue with the free event.

The event must continue, but we must cut costs. For example, we should make the steamed buns and dumplings smaller, and use less soup in the soup ladle, etc.

But to the siblings' utter surprise, the number of customers coming for the free meals the next day did not decrease at all. The group of elderly people scrambling for the buns came out again, and even more came today.

Because the soup suddenly became less, and there were fewer steamed buns and mantou, many elderly people got into arguments with the crowd, and the scene was filled with noise.

Giving away free things is a thankless task!

Chapter 47: Returning Old Customers

The elderly folks were ready for another free shopping spree the next day, crowding the noodle stalls early in the morning.

Seeing this situation, the Han family's older brothers and sisters were not to be trifled with.

The eldest sister-in-law and eldest sister, with their hands on their hips, stood at the front of the line, yelling at anyone who tried to take their place. In this lively atmosphere, they managed to keep the free event going.

The free event on the third day was still a huge success, and Han Chunming's business was quietly picking up as a group of returning customers came early in the morning.

Han Chunming was busy, while Taozi was fiddling with the soup bowl, sweating profusely. Seeing this, Han Chunming asked in confusion.