LRAB Chapter 479 Handmade Desserts
Chapter 479 Handmade Desserts
Chen Rufeng was sitting behind the counter, looking down at an old newspaper. When he heard the doorbell ring, he looked up and saw her figure, and a smile appeared on his face involuntarily. "Are you busy today?" He tried to make his tone sound relaxed.
Ran Qiuye smiled and nodded: "Fortunately, the students performed well today, nothing special happened." She said, picking up a bag of candy, "You have a lot of snacks here."
"That's good. If you like, come and see me often. If you need anything, just let me know." Chen Rufeng responded with a smile, but his eyes couldn't help but stay on her face for a few more seconds. He knew that his feelings for her were no longer just a simple liking, but he was still hesitant, fearing that this feeling would cause her trouble.
Ran Qiuye seemed to see through his worries and said softly, "I heard some rumors recently... They seem to be talking about us."
Chen Rufeng's heart tightened, and he forced a smile: "Really? People in the alley like to make wild guesses, don't take it to heart."
"I don't mind these." Ran Qiuye sighed softly, "I'm just afraid that it will cause you trouble."
Hearing her say this, Chen Rufeng felt warm and touched. He looked at her clear eyes, and the doubts in his heart seemed to be dispelled. Perhaps, Ran Qiuye did not care about these gossips as much as he imagined, but was more concerned about his feelings. This gave Chen Rufeng a sense of strength in his heart, and he should not hesitate any longer. I actually... like chatting with you. "Chen Rufeng finally plucked up the courage and spoke, although his tone was still a little restrained, but he knew that this was a necessary beginning.
Ran Qiuye smiled gently when he heard this, "I also like chatting with you. The atmosphere here is very good and makes me feel very comfortable."
The two of them stood in the store, and the air was filled with a faint warmth. Although they did not say anything more, this simple exchange made them feel more tacitly understood each other.
That night, thinking back to Ran Qiuye's smile, he felt extremely happy. He finally understood that there was no need to rush to solve some things, nor to worry too much about other people's opinions. As long as the two people's hearts were sincere, the external noise would eventually be ignored.
However, life is always full of uncertainties. A few days later, a new small supermarket opened in the alley. It was modernly decorated, with a wide variety of goods and relatively cheap prices, and attracted many customers. Chen Rufeng's store business was greatly impacted. Some neighbors who used to patronize it every day now turned to the new supermarket. His store was much quieter, and even the noisy children were much less.
Faced with this situation, Chen Rufeng began to feel anxious. If business declined, his store would probably be difficult to maintain. Competition among shops in the alley was already fierce, and his store was small in scale, so it was inevitable that it could not withstand such an impact.
Ran Qiuye also noticed this change. She would come to the store as usual after school, but she could clearly feel that Chen Rufeng was in a low mood. One evening, she saw Chen Rufeng sitting alone behind the counter in a daze. She walked over and asked in a gentle voice, "Rufeng, what's wrong with you recently? You seem to be worried."
Chen Rufeng looked up at her and forced a smile. "Nothing, it's just that the new supermarket is doing good business, so my place is a little affected." He expressed his understanding, "These are all temporary, don't worry too much, the neighbors still like to come to your place. Although the small supermarket is big, it doesn't have the warmth here."
Chen Rufeng felt a little comforted after hearing her words, but he also knew the cruelty of reality. Having run a small shop for many years, he knew that the market was volatile and the competition was fierce, so he was not optimistic.
However, just when he was secretly worried, Ran Qiuye suddenly said: "Rufeng, I have a small suggestion, I wonder if you are willing to listen to it."
"Of course I would. Just tell me." Chen Rufeng immediately perked up and looked forward to her thoughts.
"I think you can consider making some special products, such as some handmade snacks or drinks, which can not only attract customers, but also increase the uniqueness of the store. Haven't you always been good at making snacks? You can try to launch a few." Ran Qiuye suggested with a smile, his tone full of encouragement.
Chen Rufeng was enlightened when he heard this. Indeed, he had always had the skill to make traditional dim sum, but he had only made them for fun at home before and had never thought of turning them into commodities. Ran Qiuye's suggestion gave him a lot of inspiration and allowed him to see a new direction.
"This is a good idea. I can give it a try." My heart was suddenly filled with confidence.
In this way, Chen Rufeng decided to follow Ran Qiuye's suggestion and start to launch some handmade special snacks in the store. After a few days of preparation, he selected several snacks that he was good at, such as walnut cakes, peach cakes and red date cakes, and carefully packaged them and put them on the shelves. In order to make these snacks more attractive, he also specially designed some nostalgic packaging bags with the words "Old Hutong Handmade Snacks" written on them, which makes people feel nostalgic at first glance.
As soon as these snacks were launched, they were well received by customers. Neighbors came to try them, and even the children fell in love with the unique taste of these traditional snacks. The store gradually regained its former bustle, and business picked up again.
Chen Rufeng felt extremely lucky. He knew that he had not chosen the wrong side. This time, he followed Ran Qiuye's advice, which not only saved the business of the store, but also allowed him to find a new position in the alley. More importantly, he felt that his relationship with Ran Qiuye became closer. Ran Qiuye was not only the special person in his heart, but also his partner and supporter in his career.
After Chen Rufeng's store launched handmade dim sum, business gradually improved and became even more popular than before. This gradually calmed the uneasiness in his heart, and he felt better and better every day when he saw the endless stream of customers. However, the success of the business did not completely dilute the feelings in his heart. On the contrary, with the help of Ran Qiuye, his feelings for her became deeper. After a busy day, Chen Rufeng sat behind the counter of the store, and his eyes involuntarily looked towards the door. The lanterns in the alley were already lit, and the soft light sprinkled on the bluestone road, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere. He knew that Ran Qiuye would often come over at this time, either to buy some snacks or to chat. Every time at this time, his heart would always be a little nervous, with a hint of expectation.