"What do you guys want?"
The owner of Xu Ji Restaurant was a stout man in his forties or fifties, his heart filled with tension.
Song Qiao, leading a group of people, stood imposingly at the entrance of his establishment, clearly not here with good intentions.
"Let me tell you, Xu Ji is protected by higher-ups. You'd best not cause trouble here."
The owner obviously mistook Song Qiao and his entourage for thugs demanding protection money.
He quickly introduced himself, hoping to make these people back down.
Song Qiao found the misunderstanding both amusing and frustrating.
It wasn't entirely the owner's fault; the subordinates Duan Kun had assigned him were all fierce-looking, nothing like legitimate businessmen.
Even Xia Yuqing, seeing these men, would have thought Song Qiao was involved in shady dealings.
He smiled awkwardly at the owner and began to explain.
"I believe you've misunderstood, Mr. Xu. I'm not here for protection money."
"I'm Song Qiao, the owner of Xiang Piaopiao Stinky Tofu, and I'd like to discuss a collaboration with Xu Ji Restaurant."
"Collaboration?"
The owner visibly relaxed, but a hint of doubt remained in his tone.
"I'm a brand restaurant that specializes in traditional cuisine. What kind of collaboration could I possibly have with a street food vendor like you?"
His words subtly revealed a disdain for Song Qiao's small-scale operation.
Song Qiao smiled, unbothered by the owner's condescension.
"Mr. Xu, you must have noticed the booming business at Chunfeng Restaurant these past few days."
"That's the result of collaborating with my stall."
"Would you be interested in a similar partnership?"
"I believe your restaurant's business will also skyrocket."
"I can promote your establishment and offer free snacks, all I ask is a small space at your shop's entrance to set up my stall."
The owner was clearly surprised by Song Qiao's proposed collaboration method.
He had expected Chunfeng Restaurant to offer Xiang Piaopiao a substantial profit share to secure such a deal.
He hadn't anticipated Song Qiao would propose this arrangement, requiring only a stall space.
However, after a brief consideration, he still declined.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Song, but I'm not interested in your proposed collaboration."
"My restaurant is different from those two establishments. We focus on authentic flavors and don't rely on unconventional methods to attract customers."
"While this might increase your stall's revenue, it brings no benefit to my shop."
The recent surge in business at Chunfeng and another restaurant hadn't significantly impacted his own patrons.
His regular customers were those who deeply cherished traditional tastes.
Song Qiao, well aware of the owner's mindset, continued to patiently persuade him.
"Mr. Xu, business is like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you'll fall behind."
"If you solely rely on your existing customers, new customers will inevitably flock elsewhere."
"I don't need customers who follow trends; old customers and reputation are more important to me."
The owner was clearly growing impatient. He let out a cold snort, interrupting Song Qiao's explanation.
"Hey, you old fool, you're ungrateful, aren't you?"
Ah Wei, who had been standing beside Song Qiao, could no longer contain himself. He pulled out a cleaver from his waist and lunged towards the owner.
"Our Brother Qiao is sincerely negotiating with you, and you dare to be so indecisive."
"I'll give you two cuts today and see if you still dare to refuse!"
Accustomed to violence under Brother Kun, he felt compelled to teach the owner a lesson for disrespecting his boss.
"Ah Wei, stop! Don't be so presumptuous."
Song Qiao turned and sternly rebuked Ah Wei, halting his reckless action.
Seeing Song Qiao's reprimand, Ah Wei immediately stopped, casting a resentful glance at Mr. Xu.
His eyes were full of menace, as if he would charge forward and deliver two cuts if the owner dared to refuse his boss again.
"What are you doing? Are you going to attack me if I don't cooperate?"
"If you continue this, I'll call the police!"
The owner was now visibly frightened, his voice trembling slightly.
"Mr. Xu, my subordinate is inexperienced. I hope you won't hold it against him."
Song Qiao quickly smiled and spoke to appease the owner.
"Regarding the collaboration, it's entirely your decision. However, I urge you to reconsider."
"If you remain stagnant, it will lead to severe consequences."
"In ancient times, carriages had an excellent reputation, but they were eventually replaced by automobiles."
"To avoid being eliminated by the times, continuous reform and innovation are essential."
"And my stinky tofu can bring innovation and a better reputation to your establishment."
Song Qiao patiently explained, hoping the owner would heed his advice.
He felt a sense of helplessness; Xu Ji Restaurant was unlike the other two. For his business to expand and gain a better reputation, he had to collaborate with such established restaurants.
"This..."
The owner's resolve began to waver. He was aware of the income Xiang Piaopiao had brought to the other two restaurants in recent days.
The profits were significant, even surpassing his own shop's by thirty percent.
Consider that just a few days ago, those two restaurants had been doing worse business than his Xu Ji Restaurant.
Furthermore, if he refused Song Qiao again, he wasn't sure if Song Qiao's henchmen would attack him.
"If we collaborate, what will be the cost?"
The owner hesitated, then asked Song Qiao with some trepidation.
"Xiang Piaopiao will collect ten percent of your shop's monthly profit."
"If your business does not improve this month, I, Song Qiao, will not take a single cent."
Song Qiao stated calmly. He had already made his calculations before coming to Xu Ji.
"Deal!"
The price was reasonable, and Song Qiao wasn't making an exorbitant demand. This brought a sigh of relief to the owner, who gritted his teeth and agreed.
"Ah Wei, choose two men to stay here and set up a stall for the owner."
"I'll have someone deliver our stinky tofu to you shortly."
Seeing that the collaboration was secured, Song Qiao immediately instructed Ah Wei.
He then glanced at the owner, who was still somewhat fearful of Ah Wei.
"You don't need to worry about them causing trouble. On the contrary, if anything happens at your shop, their skills can help you resolve it."
"That would be wonderful."
The owner hadn't expected this hidden benefit from agreeing to the collaboration.
As restaurateurs, they often encountered unruly patrons who had been drinking. With Song Qiao's men guarding the place, it would likely bring a sense of security.
After arranging everything, Song Qiao had the prepared contracts brought out, with two copies each.
He felt a sense of joy. He hadn't expected the toughest hurdle, in his opinion, to be overcome so easily.