Selling Wine

Qin Shunying first had Jiang Han memorize the wine list, followed by the tavern's menu.

The wine list was quite long, divided into pure spirits and cocktails, none of which were cheap; bottles costing three or four hundred were everywhere. After mentally calculating the potential bill, Jiang Han clicked her tongue in secret; a night of eating and drinking in a place like this would cost at least eight or nine hundred.

No wonder the Witch House warehouse was filled with so many rare spells and materials; they were loaded.

"When a guest asks about drinks, you can say what you know, but do not boast about their effects. You can act cute or flirt, but no physical contact—although I'm sure you're a well-behaved girl who respects herself, these are prerequisites I must state."

It was very professional... no, it should be said that it was a very decent tavern... The stone in Jiang Han's heart finally dropped. She nodded, indicating she would abide by the house rules.

"Very good."

"When a guest asks for the price, you don't need to answer; just hand them the menu," Qin Shunying said. "You don't need to say too much. Just watch them quietly. Driven by their own vanity, they will soon order the most expensive drinks their financial situation can handle. Your task is to make the guests buy those high-priced drinks willingly, without making them angry."

Qin Shunying spoke with great experience:

"Listen more. Guests often have a lot to say, and this is when you need to listen to their thoughts. Be patient. Do not try to upsell drinks when a guest talks about things like relationships. That will give them the impression that 'you are only listening to me to sell me alcohol.' Even if that is true, you cannot let them feel that way."

"Have style. In fact, as I just said—we don't talk about prices, we just push the menu over gently... By the way, how is your handwriting?"

Does having good handwriting have anything to do with selling alcohol... Jiang Han muttered to herself, but answered honestly, "It's alright."

In truth, that was a modest way of putting it. In her previous life, she had beautiful handwriting, which had even earned her the favor of her superiors.

"Excellent." Qin Shunying's wine-red eyes narrowed, looking a bit cunning:

"Keep some sticky notes ready at all times. When a guest asks what kind of wine we have, write the most expensive ones on a note and push it over. If they buy them, that's naturally good. If they ask if there are cheaper ones, don't mock them. Maintain a somewhat aloof attitude, write another note with mid-range prices, and push that over..."

"That way, they will definitely buy!"

Psychological marketing... Jiang Han hadn't expected the sales strategy of this tavern to be so advanced. If it were a bit lower-class, they would be shouting out the names of the drinks every time a high-priced bottle was sold, which would be similar to the taverns she had seen in her past life. However, the Witch House still valued its style and wouldn't do anything so tacky.

Next, Qin Shunying explained various other techniques and gave her a TV program schedule.

The Witch House tavern was equipped with a large-screen TV (hand-crafted by an Archwitch). From 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM, they played recorded programs purchased from the Witch TV Station; the on-demand fee wasn't high, but it required a reservation. From 1:00 AM to 11:00 AM, they aired live broadcasts, including the School Duel Tournament, Potion Variety Show, and other live events.

Memorizing the programs and finding ways to easily chat with guests who came to watch TV was also part of an employee's duties.

Qin Shunying glanced at the wall clock and asked:

"Hmm, it's almost eleven. If you don't mind, why don't you try working at the bar?"

"Okay," Jiang Han replied, then asked, "Does working at the bar only involve handling the register?"

If possible, she hoped to spend five days a week at the bar, letting the bar keep her contained so she wouldn't have to go out and sell alcohol to those witches...

Qin Shunying nodded, maintaining a smile that twitched from time to time, and said:

"That's right, it's a very easy job. Also, if a guest comes to the bar to drink, you will need to upsell drinks using the first method I mentioned: pushing the menu. Because the bar is a two-person job, your partner, another witch, will also have a much easier time."

As she spoke, she walked out of the lounge.

Jiang Han followed behind and arrived at the bar, where she saw a witch standing there wearing a similar style of qipao but with gloves.

She had traditional long black hair, but at the tips, there were fiery-looking flames, and a pair of quartz-red eyes that were also quite impressive. Her fair skin was somewhat similar to Jiang Han's, but there were distinct differences.

Her skin tone had a fairness that seemed illuminated by burning flames, while Jiang Han's leaned toward a cooler color palette, looking a bit like it was covered in snowflakes.

Seeing Jiang Han walk up to the bar, this witch scanned the qipao on her body with her gaze, then tilted her head slightly to look at Qin Shunying.

"This is Miss Jiang Han, who just joined the Witch House today." Qin Shunying pointed at the witch. "And this is Miss Chu Yujun. She will teach you the basics, and I hope you get along well."

The two nodded in unison, causing Qin Shunying to reveal a satisfied smile. She clapped her hands, took a puff from her smoking pipe, and then tapped the table lightly: "Alright ladies, this place is yours."

That sounded like you were introducing us for a blind date... Jiang Han turned her head away, only to see Chu Yujun tilting her head and sizing her up. Her quartz-red pupils were deep, and her silent demeanor was intimidating. Jiang Han made a startled expression, and the other girl lowered her eyelids and turned away.

"Hello, Miss... Chu?" Jiang Han asked tentatively.

Chu Yujun turned her head again, staring at her in silence. Just as Jiang Han began to feel a prickle on her scalp, she spoke in a very slow, rhythmic manner:

"Do not use 'Miss.' Just call me by my full name."

Jiang Han shifted her gaze in search of help. Qin Shunying, who was sitting at a round table in the tavern watching a card game, looked over, gave her an encouraging nod, then bit down on her pipe and rubbed her hands together to squeeze into the card game.

"Then... Chu Yujun?" Jiang Han recited the name.

"Please sit." Chu Yujun pointed to the bench beneath her.

The seat behind the bar was a high, long sofa, and Jiang Han looked quite petite sitting on it.

The bar was designed as a semi-circular, inward-facing stepped structure with two levels separated by a 40-centimeter height difference. The level facing the staff was lower, a bit like the desks for students in a university lecture hall, allowing them to take notes or read books when no guests were around.

Jiang Han placed her hands on the table. At this moment, there weren't many guests in the Witch House; most were playing cards or watching TV.

The program currently on TV was a witch duel. Jiang Han frowned. Because many spells could resurrect the recently deceased, the witches in the program were going for the kill. One of the witches used Dispel Magic and immediately followed up with a Wither Spell, turning half of her opponent's body—whose shield had just been removed—into ash. The level of cruelty was such that it was only permitted for viewers over 18...

As Jiang Han watched the TV with complex emotions, looking at the witch who had been hit by the Wither Spell and carried off by paramedics, Chu Yujun's slow-paced voice emerged beside her:

"Too careless."

Jiang Han glanced over quietly. Chu Yujun was mixing a drink while commenting in a low voice.

"She was too greedy. She didn't want to spend more mana to win the match, and then she got turned around." Chu Yujun noticed Jiang Han's gaze and raised her voice slightly, signaling her intent to chat.

"Too greedy?" Jiang Han played along.

"This is a tournament, a points-based system with six matches a day. So, you have to try your best to control your mana consumption. You have to save mana to deal with strong enemies, or choose to forfeit selectively," Chu Yujun explained expressionlessly.

"So she was trying to save mana to handle the next match?"

Jiang Han watched the various charts on the television, accompanied by the commentator's remarks:

"Oh! That shouldn't have happened, contestant Xiang!"

"Indeed, it really shouldn't have, contestant Xiang Shi. To throw away such a good position is a tragedy. The serious injuries might even affect her mentality and condition for the next match. She was on track for a perfect 6-0 record today, but with this mess, it's going to turn into 5-1, or even 4-2!"

Perhaps because it was the ancient era of '94, the commentator was just as bold as those from the 1994 of her past life. The beautiful commentator shouted with great emotion:

"You even wanted to skimp on the cost of a protective spell? If you don't get turned around, who will? That was just too amateurish, wasn't it? If it were me, I would have definitely secured this match!"

The other commentator sitting next to the Witch commentator said with a laugh:

"That's right, if Teacher Yu were up there, she really would have won! But she might be even greedier than contestant Xiang Shi—the kind of greedy where she'd dare to skip even the Flash Dust! In last year's Masters Tournament, didn't she get turned around by Misali's invisibility because she tried to save on Flash Dust?"

--The commentary booth started fighting!

They were actually fighting!

Jiang Han was stunned, while Chu Yujun beside her was so accustomed to it that she picked up a thermos from the table and poured a cup of tea, looking quite relaxed.

Consequently, Jiang Han also relaxed, chatting with Chu Yujun while watching the television; it was almost more comfortable than being at home.

Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long. As the time passed eleven o'clock, more and more customers arrived. The eight seats in front of the bar were filled with Witches, and Jiang Han became busy. Her first day on the job was a bit chaotic; she had to serve drinks accurately, record orders for the servers to fetch from the cellar, and deal with the verbal teasing from Witches with varying degrees of nasty personalities, as well as the occasional lecherous gaze...

More or less, these were the troubles of working for the first time.

"Huaizhen Wine, one glass here, add some salt and soda."

"Enchant my vodka! I want it to have fire!"

"Dream Rum, three barrels, to go."

Fixed a typo.

Changed 'Du' to 'Chu'; my head was full of literary girl plots while writing...