Explosive

The original, antique-style Home are indeed different.

While it can't compare to the 800+ square meter Royal Court Suite, it still boasts its own private garden courtyard. Surrounded by swaying trees and crisscrossing paths, the suite features original wooden beams throughout.

On one side, tourists throng; on the other, tranquility reigns. A single gate separates two worlds, one peaceful and the other bustling.

Whether it's worth it or not is a matter of opinion.

Anyway, considering the location alone, plus the authentic taste and the original Home style, Zhang Yang felt it was quite worthwhile.

After all, at 10,000 a night, he certainly doesn't feel anything right now.

After checking into the hotel, Zhang Yang turned around and headed to Chaoyang Joy City to check on the preparations for Soup King Hotpot's first store in Beijing.

Currently, Soup King Hotpot has six stores in Beijing.

The Joy City store is the first one, and regardless of how well it's received, the remaining six stores will also open, as preparations for all of them are nearing completion.

However, the success of the first store is not only related to the market in Beijing, but also to the market in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and even the northern region, so it cannot be taken lightly.

Therefore, Zhang Yang decided to personally oversee the situation.

Given his current abilities and vision, the phrase "taking charge" is not presumptuous at all; on the contrary, it is the most conservative approach imaginable.

Chaoyang Joy City, spanning eleven floors.

Soup King Hotpot is located on the seventh floor.

Why was the first store in Beijing located in Chaoyang Joy City? Because it's a down-to-earth place with plenty of foot traffic, and the customer base is mainly young people.

Zhang Yang was fairly confident that his first store here would be a success.

"Hello, Mr. Zhang." Inside the Soup King Hotpot restaurant, the regional manager, supervisor, and store manager of the Joy City branch all came up to greet him.

Inside the store, a group of well-trained employees were lined up nearby, curiously observing the scene.

"Have you all eaten? Let's find somewhere to grab a bite and chat," Zhang Yang greeted with a smile, without putting on any airs.

"How about... how about our store?" the regional manager suddenly suggested tentatively.

"Okay, let's all eat together." Zhang Yang checked the time. It was just lunchtime, and most of the shops in the mall were only just starting to get customers. He guessed that none of the people in the shops had eaten yet.

A moment later, at the Soup King Hotpot restaurant, which had not yet officially opened for business.

Everyone was gathered together.

With the opening date approaching, all ingredients have already been transported via cold chain, so there is no shortage of ingredients.

In several large private rooms, Zhang Yang, the big boss, mingled with his district managers, supervisors, managers, and the store's employees, enjoying a pleasant meal and giving them a pep talk.

As for how to motivate them?

Talking about life, ideals, and grand principles is incredibly naive. The only way to truly make employees feel a sense of belonging and loyalty to the company is through benefits and incentives.

Zhang Yang waved his hand and distributed the substantial rewards, instantly igniting the atmosphere at the scene.

The young men and women, who were only in their early twenties, clapped their hands until they were red, and their faces were flushed with excitement.

Soon, one by one, they came up to offer a toast as a sign of respect.

"Mr. Zhang, let me propose a toast to you."

"Mr. Zhang, I'll do it."

"Mr. Zhang, um... um, may I take a picture with you?" A young female shop assistant, looking a bit shy, mustered up her courage and asked.

"Sure," Zhang Yang replied with a smile.

The majority of people present were young, including several senior executives who were actually in their late thirties. The store managers and supervisors were even younger, in their late twenties or thirties.

As for the shop assistants, they are even younger, with an average age of no more than twenty-five.

Immediately, a commotion erupted at the scene.

The shy-looking girl bit her lip and leaned closer, took a picture with her phone, and then carefully put it away.

Once someone started, many girls who had been secretly planning to take photos with him couldn't sit still any longer and came up one after another to ask for a group photo. Zhang Yang smiled at these small requests, but he didn't refuse them and agreed to them all.

After taking the group photo, many girls promptly posted it on their WeChat Moments.

Some people might find it strange—it's just taking a photo with the boss, what's so special about posting it on social media?

However, while Soup King Hotpot may not be a nationwide sensation, it is still a popular restaurant among young people, with over seventy stores across the country and a handsome young male owner.

Taking a group photo and showing off is perfectly acceptable.

Lunch was both a get-together and a chance for Zhang Yang to check on the store's preparations.

Soup King Hotpot has clearly put in a lot of effort.

As the first store in Beijing, almost every detail and every staff member in the store has been perfected.

As for the dishes, Zhang Yang knew them better than anyone else.

It's the same familiar taste: the mushroom broth is rich and fragrant, the tripe is crisp and refreshing, the meat rolls are tender, and the vegetables are fresh... This is complemented by the open kitchen, a large screen at the entrance displaying a loop of the restaurant's premium ingredients, and a real-time order ranking screen on the main wall inside...

Looking at the domestic hot pot industry, it is definitely highly differentiated and unique. Today's young people love this unique style that is different from the rest.

Many of these changes were implemented under Zhang Yang's leadership.

As for the results, they were immediate and all reflected in solid data. To the point that the management of Soup King Hotpot now holds Zhang Yang in the highest esteem, with nothing but admiration.

After lunch, Zhang Yang strolled around the shop, stopping occasionally, and finally nodded in agreement.

Tangwang's first store in Beijing is now ready in every way except for the final push.

It has fully met all the requirements for opening.

"The opening date is set for the day after tomorrow, right?" Zhang Yang beckoned over the store manager and asked.

"Yes, Mr. Zhang, we will officially open for business the day after tomorrow. We have also cooperated with some local self-media and forums in Beijing to carry out promotional activities, and Joy City has also given us a considerable amount of advertising space." The store manager introduced the situation in great detail.

"Okay, well done." Zhang Yang said amiably, in a great mood.

In the afternoon, Zhang Yang visited several other stores in Beijing that were nearing completion of preparations, such as the West Beijing Joy City, the Tongzhou Wanda Plaza, and the Longfor Paradise Walk store. He toured all of them.

I have a general understanding of the situation.

On his way back to the Aman at Summer Palace, Zhang Yang was calculating the approximate timeframe for opening seven more stores. After all, in the short term, he wanted to upgrade to the next level and get the upgrade package.

The Chaoyang Joy City store in Beijing will open the day after tomorrow, and two more stores will open in a week. A new store is also opening in Magic City this week, along with one in Jinling and one in Hangzhou ...

All things considered, it's entirely possible to gather seven companies within two weeks.

Even slightly increasing the speed wouldn't be a bad idea, since we've already pretty much met the basic requirements for starting a business.

"Looks like the upgrade is just around the corner," Zhang Yang muttered to himself.

Looking further ahead, if the northern market opens up, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region will also be ready, and several stores in the south are also in the works.

Reaching 100 stores is actually just a matter of time.

It's not far at all.

By then, you'll have 100 points, and even more, a business worth 3 billion awaits you.

Its own industry scale will take another huge step forward.

Sitting in the taxi, Zhang Yang looked at the sky over Beijing and suddenly felt a sense of clarity.

Night falls inside the Aman at Summer Palace.

On the Kunming Lake, under the bright autumn moon, Zhang Yang stood in the courtyard, appreciating the night view of the garden, feeling exceptionally relaxed.

"I feel like I've forgotten something?"

Zhang Yang looked puzzled, but then felt it wasn't anything important, so he simply forgot about it.

··

The next day, taking advantage of his rare trip to the Beijing, Zhang Yang thoroughly explored the vast city.

For breakfast, we had douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) and jiaoquan (fried dough rings), and strolled around the nearby Summer Palace. For lunch, we went to DaDong Roast Duck to eat roast duck. As for the afternoon, it was late autumn in October, and the leaves of the smoke trees in Fragrant Hills Park were turning golden and red.

Since we're already here, we definitely have to see the red leaves at Fragrant Hill.

In the afternoon, Zhang Yang strolled through Fragrant Hills Park. He wasn't sure if he had come at the right time, but he saw only a few trees that were red, while the whole mountainside was covered in gold.

Feel the fresh mountain breeze and breathe in the clean air; you can't help but feel incredibly relaxed and happy.

This trip wasn't a complete waste.

However, as they strolled around, the number of tourists around them gradually increased, making it almost impossible to walk.

Zhang Yang was too tired to shop anymore, so he simply returned to the exit and went to Joy City first.

It was the eve of opening, and the restaurant was conducting its final stress test. The restaurant was basically filled with food bloggers who had been invited in advance.

In a sense, it has already entered the operational phase.

Zhang Yang didn't go in to disturb or interfere. He just stood outside the door, watching the waiters walking around inside, the busy staff in the open kitchen, and the self-media people who were taking photos and videos at the tables that were all full.

Everything seems to be on track.

Zhang Yang thought for a moment, then casually took a picture of the Soup King Hotpot's storefront, added the location, and posted it on his WeChat Moments.

There wasn't really a title.

The moment the post was published on WeChat Moments, it was flooded with likes and comments, from acquaintances and strangers alike, a huge number of them.

[Does my brother mean he's treating everyone to hot pot? Raise your hand!! I'm free.]

My crush's WeChat Moments are always concise and to the point.

··

"Huh?" Zhang Yang suddenly noticed a profile picture he hadn't seen in a while.

A little flower, Tian Chuxi?

Since their last meeting in Hangzhou, Tian Chuxi has been immersed in filming her upcoming scenes. Since she's been busy, Zhang Yang hasn't bothered her.

[Soup King Hotpot has opened in Beijing? What a coincidence! I'm going to Beijing soon too. Will you treat me to hot pot?]

Zhang Yang replied with a smile.

[You come, please.]

A short while later, Tian Chuxi sent a message on WeChat.

"I'm not joking. I really will be going in a few days. Will you still be in the Beijing then?"

"I should be here recently," Zhang Yang replied.

"Okay, hot pot, and all sorts of fancy meals, I'll treat you." Tian Chuxi sent a long string of emojis without waiting for a reply, clearly looking forward to it.

Zhang Yang chatted with Tian Chuxi, whom he hadn't contacted in a long time, and learned that filming for her drama had come to an end and that it would soon enter the production stage.

And she can finally take some time to rest and recuperate.

"Okay," Zhang Yang readily agreed. "See you then."

Later that evening, the local social media influencers at Soup King Hotpot seemed to have left quite satisfied with their meal. As they departed, their murmurs reached Zhang Yang's ears.

"This is rare; I've never seen a business model like this before."

"The mushroom soup is so delicious! I heard it only takes about four hours from simmering to serving. It's so authentic and retains its original flavor!"

"I've eaten at Tangwang Hot Pot before, but it wasn't like it is now. I feel like there's a mastermind behind Soup King Hotpot now."

"Now there's something to write about."

That night, when Zhang Yang returned to the Aman at Summer Palace, and was still awake after taking a bath late at night, he was surprised to find that the local reviews and Little Blue Book had been updated.

A large number of fresh reviews of Soup King Hotpot have been released.

[A truly novel experience. From the large screen outside the store continuously advertising the selected ingredients to the real-time updated menu rankings inside, everything was quite interesting. There was also a fully open kitchen, ingredient display cases, and refrigerated vegetable cabinets. Of course, all of this was to set the stage for the real taste. After tasting it, I can confirm that it was no exaggeration. From the drinkable mushroom soup to the crisp and tender tripe, and even a slice of potato, I experienced a unique sensation.]

[You can't learn how to Soup King Hotpot.]

[Delicious and affordable, with excellent service!]

Looking at these words of praise, Zhang Yang felt a little embarrassed.

Hmm... is it really that good?

In conclusion, Soup King Hotpot's pre-opening sales pitch was a brilliant move.

Zhang Yang suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of anticipation for the opening of the first store in Joy City the next day.

Will he become the new king of queues again?

The next morning, Zhang Yang arrived at the Soup King Hotpot restaurant in Joy City around 10 a. m. at a leisurely pace.

At this time, the store manager is holding a meeting with all the staff. Everything in the store and the kitchen is ready, just waiting for the store to open at noon.

Most importantly, today is the weekend.

Not long after the mall opened, the flow of people in Joy City, a popular shopping destination, began to rise sharply.

By noon, everyone was ready to show off their skills at the various restaurants.

"Mr. Zhang."

As soon as Zhang Yang arrived, the store manager immediately stopped his meeting and greeted him.

"You all go about your business, don't worry about me," Zhang Yang casually instructed before walking inside for a stroll.

There's not much to say about the details, inside and out.

The environment, atmosphere, and over a dozen ways to showcase the best-selling dishes all exude an air of sophistication and suggest that the food is of the highest quality.

Ultimately, this naturally leads to one result: popularity, table turnover, and revenue.

It's safe now.

Zhang Yang smiled slightly and walked out of the store.

As lunchtime approached and it was the weekend, countless customers began to come and go from the front of restaurants.

And Soup King Hotpot is no exception, in fact...

The packed houses are just the beginning.

How many tables are ahead?

How long will it take?

"Please get us a number, there are six of us..."

The shop assistants outside kept handing out numbers, and the waiting area outside was packed with people, with numbers being called incessantly.

All that is before us proclaims one fact.

The success of Soup King Hotpot's first store in Beijing might actually be... quite impressive?!