Chapter 25

Little Bear Snacks was only three or four meters away from their barbecue stall, so there was basically no need to pay extra transportation or refrigerated storage costs.

Xin Geling asked her curiously, “How did you persuade the manager?”

Xie Zhitang smiled, tying her hair up again as she explained, “Little Bear Snacks stored a batch of Coke and overstocked it. They can’t sell it all, and it’s also close to expiring, so that’s why they’re discounting it. In the past, a small bottle of Coke like this could sell for two yuan, even two and a half. Now it’s discounted down to one and a half, and they still can’t sell fifty bottles in a day. Of course the manager is willing to cooperate with us.”

“Also, what I negotiated with the manager is still for him to sell them to us at one and a half per bottle, and he’s willing to provide the chilling service too,” Xie Zhitang added.

Xin Geling suddenly did not know what to say. Xie Zhitang’s negotiation skills were too strong. Earlier, she had imagined giving the other side another two mao in profit to get them to provide chilled storage. Unexpectedly, not only did they not need to give up those two mao, but the other party was also willing to provide the chilling service.

Xie Zhitang smiled. “Because the manager really has too much Coke, and it’s close to its expiry date, with only one or two months left. At the current speed, if he doesn’t get rid of them and sell them soon, he’ll lose money.”

Xin Geling asked, “How do you know they won’t sell out?”

Xie Zhitang motioned for her to look at the snack street. “Because there are too many drink competitors on this street. There are three or four mobile stalls selling hand-beaten drinks alone. Their prices are low, and they all focus on fresh fruit, with many ​stolen content​varieties that are refreshing and tasty. Customers will also feel that fresh fruit drinks are healthier than Coke.”

A simple lemonade the size of a Luckin Coffee cup only cost four yuan. For five or six yuan, one could buy a large cup of purely handmade hand-beaten duck-shit-fragrance lemon tea or freshly squeezed watermelon juice.

Whether from the perspective of consumer habits or personal health needs, the mobile drink stalls offered better value.

So the mobile drink stalls had booming business, while the high-sugar drinks inside Little Bear Snacks went largely ignored.

“So that’s how it is.” Hearing her analyze it this way, Xin Geling could not help worrying. “You said fresh fruit drinks are healthier than Coke. Then will ours fail to move too?”

Xie Zhitang reassured her. “It won’t. Although Coke is a high-sugar drink, we’re bundling it with barbecue. Barbecue is also high in calories. Since customers are already ordering barbecue, they won’t care about the sugar in one small bottle of Coke. And we’re giving it away, not making them spend money to buy it. That will make customers feel like they’re getting a bargain, like it would be a waste not to take it.”

“Sister, our ultimate goal isn’t to sell the Coke. It’s to use the Coke to raise each customer’s average order value.”

The customers who were originally only willing to buy ten or twenty-something yuan of barbecue would buy two more skewers for the sake of that bottle of chilled Coke, raising their original mental budget to thirty.

Hearing this, Xin Geling felt even more that Xie Zhitang was very professional. As expected of someone read the original at bailiantales.comwho worked in advertising, her analysis was clear and logical. The way Xin Geling looked at Xie Zhitang could not help carrying admiration. She raised a hand to press down the brim of her baseball cap, the corners of her mouth lifting. “I’ll listen to you.”

Although Xie Zhitang had handled many major projects and received praise from clients before, being affirmed by Xin Geling like this gave her a completely different feeling.

Those three simple words felt more like recognition of her as a person.

An unnamed emotion surged in her chest. Xie Zhitang maintained her steady gentleness. “Then I’ll go to the print shop and print the promotion?”

Xin Geling looked at the barbecue stall. A customer was coming over. “Okay. The print shop is over there.”

So Xie Zhitang took the opportunity to go to the print shop and print out the promotion of spending thirty yuan to receive a chilled Coke, then pasted it to the front of the stall cart.

Together with Xin Geling, she went to Little Bear Snacks and moved out fifty bottles of chilled Coke. Because they would warm up easily if left outside, Xie Zhitang also bought an insulated foam box. The manager poured one-third of a box of ice into it for them.

Before more people arrived, Xie Zhitang hurriedly opened several packs of Coke and placed them all into the foam box to keep chilled.

At five in the afternoon, the number of people on the street gradually increased.

Someone saw the promotion and asked, “Boss, spend thirty and get one Coke?”

“Yes.”

“Give me five beef skewers, five lamb skewers, and three chive skewers.”

As soon as Xin Geling heard the order, she began grilling. Xie Zhitang calculated it for him. “Altogether, forty-three.”

About five minutes later, Xin Geling packed the skewers for him. Xie Zhitang crouched down and opened the foam box, taking out a bottle of chilled Coke and placing it into the bag together with the barbecue.

“Here you go.”

“Okay.” The customer took it and touched the bottle of chilled Coke. The icy, refreshing chill instantly traveled to his nerve endings, and he thought, It really is chilled Coke!

Not bad. He had gotten a bargain.

Another customer came over, though this one looked like a middle school student.

“Boss, give me two beef skewers, two lamb skewers, one grilled chicken wing, and one grilled sausage.”

Xin Geling said, “Okay, please wait.”

Xie Zhitang calculated it with the calculator. The total came to twenty-six. Her thoughts stirred slightly. “Altogether, twenty-six. Right now, if you spend thirty, you get one chilled Coke. Do you want to add another item to make it thirty?”

Being chatted up by a pretty older sister, the middle school student’s ears reddened. He was persuaded. “Then, jiejie, add one more beef skewer.”

Xie Zhitang noticed the change in how he addressed her, and her smile deepened a little. “Okay. Scan the code here.”

Then she repeated the order to Xin Geling. “Three beef skewers, two lamb skewers, one chicken wing, and one grilled sausage.”

Xin Geling gave an “mm” and glanced at that middle school student. He called her “boss,” but ​stolen content​called Xie Zhitang “jiejie.”

People came and went in front of the barbecue stall. At eight-twenty in the evening, Xin Geling realized her barbecue had actually sold out early.

“Sister, this customer wants six beef skewers and one chicken wing.”

Just after Xie Zhitang reported the order, she heard Xin Geling say, “There’s none left. It’s sold out.”

Xie Zhitang was surprised and asked uncertainly, “It’s sold out? Is there anything else?”

Xin Geling checked several boxes. They were all empty. “There’s nothing left.”

Xie Zhitang could only apologize to the customer. “Sorry, we’re sold out today.”

The customer could only leave in disappointment.

Xin Geling turned off the gas cylinder [read the original at bailiantales.com]and took off her gloves. Xie Zhitang opened the foam box. “The Coke is gone too.”

Xin Geling said, “This exceeded my expectations. I thought we wouldn’t sell out tonight.”

After all, she had even raised the prices. Customers might hesitate or lower the amount they ordered.

Now, not only had all the ingredients sold out, but the Coke had also sold out. They had even sold out nearly an hour earlier than before.

That extra hour could let her rest earlier or do something else.

“Xie Zhitang, your idea was truly amazing.” Xin Geling sincerely admired her.

“It just happened to be the right timing, location, and people.” Xie Zhitang was not surprised by this result. Sitting on the stool, she changed out of the slippers. “Looks like we can close up early today. Let’s go back and rest.”

Xin Geling crouched down and placed her slippers into the upper layer of the storage compartment on the other side. “You worked hard today.”

“Sister worked hard too. Then I’ll head back first.”

“Okay.”

Xin Geling watched her leave before finally packing up the stall and slowly pushing it back.

When she returned home, Lin Huailan was surprised that she came back so early tonight. Xin Geling explained the Coke promotion to her. “A lot of people ordered thirty or forty, forty or fifty yuan of barbecue. It sold faster.”

Holding the tiny kitten, Lin Huailan seemed to understand and yet not quite. Seeing her daughter close the stall early, she was happy for her. “Hurry and take a shower.”

But Xin Geling did not move. “I’ll rest for ten or so minutes. I’m going for a night run later.”

Lin Huailan said, “You’re still going out this late?”

Xin Geling said, “It’s not even nine. How is that late?”

Lin Huailan said, “All right. Be careful.”

Xin Geling poured herself a cup of cooled boiled water and drank it, then glanced at the cat on Ms. Lin’s lap. “How was her appetite today?”

Lin Huailan said, “The little thing ate so much.”

Only then did Xin Geling notice that the kitten’s belly was round and bulging. “Being able to eat is a blessing. She’s grown a little more.”

“Mom, I’m heading out.”

Xin Geling changed clothes and went out. There was a river near the park around Linzhang Street, and she usually ran along that river for a while.

On her way back, she passed by Pingkou South Street and just happened to run into Xie Zhitang coming downstairs to throw out the trash.

“Sister? Why are you out so late at night?”

Xin Geling saw that she had already showered and even washed her hair. Even from a meter away, she could smell the bath fragrance on her.

“I came out for a night run to exercise.”

“Night run?”

Xie Zhitang looked somewhat dazed. She vaguely remembered that seven years ago, when they had been neighbors, she had also gone downstairs to throw out the trash like this. Only, seven years ago, she had been called by her parents to throw out the trash.

It had been autumn. In the stairwell, she had run into Xin Geling coming back from outside, the two of them going up and down the stairs.

Xie Zhitang had been above, while Xin Geling was about a dozen steps behind her. They were not far apart, their footsteps overlapping out of sync.

She walked slowly, and Xin Geling quickly caught up to her, passing by her side. From the corner of her eye, Xie Zhitang had seen the sweat on the other woman’s forehead and felt a moment of surprise. It was clearly autumn, so why was she dressed so thinly and still sweating?

So it had been from night running.

“I see. Then does Sister also run in the morning?” Xie Zhitang asked.

Xin Geling said, “I do. Do you exercise too?”

Xie Zhitang smiled and said against her conscience, “Of course. I usually exercise at the gym. I’ve never tried outdoor exercise, but now that I’ve moved to Linzhang, I kind of want to try exercising outdoors.”

Xin Geling said, “That’s true. There aren’t many gyms nearby. You can try outdoors. I usually run around the park.”

Xie Zhitang said, “Then I’ll try tomorrow. I wonder if I can run into Sister. If I can run with Sister in the morning, I feel like I’ll have a strong sense of safety.”

Perhaps Xie Zhitang’s gaze was too gentle, but Xin Geling unexpectedly felt that she seemed a little pitiful and lovable. In the next second, however, she cut off that thought.

“Actually, there are many older people exercising in the park in the morning. There are quite a lot of people. If you’re really worried, you can run with me.”

“Okay. What time does Sister usually come out in the morning?”

Xin Geling said, “Six.”

Xie Zhitang said, “Then see you at six.”

Xin Geling said, “Mm.”

After the two parted and went home separately, Xie Zhitang picked up her phone as soon as she returned and began choosing good-looking sportswear.

Would pink be too childish?

But pink would look more energetic.

Black?

Black would be too hot.

Shark pants or shorts?

A tank top or a yoga top?

She had to buy running shoes too.

After spending half an hour, Xie Zhitang chose several sets of sportswear and running shoes and asked the shop assistant to have them delivered urgently.

Early the next morning.

Xin Geling got up, washed up, and left. Out of habit, she started jogging, but as she ran, she suddenly remembered the agreement she had made with Xie Zhitang last night.

She almost ran too far.

Xin Geling turned and headed to the convenience store at the entrance of Pingkou South Street, the place they had agreed on last night, to meet Xie Zhitang.

Perhaps she had arrived a little early, because Xie Zhitang had not come yet.

She waited patiently at the shop entrance while thinking about whether she should buy a few more jin of beef and lamb when she went to the farmers’ market after the morning run.

After all, they had saved an hour last night. She was considering whether she should continue selling barbecue during that hour or leave it for herself to rest.

“Sorry, I’m late.”

Before Xin Geling had decided whether to keep selling barbecue for that extra hour tonight or rest, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind her, interrupting her thoughts.

When she turned around, she saw Xie Zhitang wearing smoky-purple athletic shorts and an extremely short, tight-fitting sports tank top.

A pair of long, slender legs entered her vision, with white running shoes on her feet. Her sportswear revealed quite a lot of skin. At a glance, her waist was very slim, and very fair. Her two arms were slender like newly sprouted willow branches, pale and glowing.

The sports tank wrapped her chest tightly, and some of the curves were full enough that…

Xin Geling’s gaze froze for a moment before quickly ​read the original at bailiantales.com​moving away and landing on Xie Zhitang’s face.

Her long hair had been tied into a ponytail, revealing a temperament somewhat different from usual. But she was still warm and soft.

She was simply a little hard to look away from.

Xin Geling: It should… be my problem.