Precaution Against Potential Threats

According to Chang'an Fang's estimation, reaching six hundred buns today would already be impressive. The sales in Class Four had basically reached saturation, and any further growth would depend on other classes, but the increases from Class One and Liu Cheng's side both exceeded expectations.

He had originally agreed with the shop owners to make four hundred buns, kept warm in foam boxes. However, he suspected that the couple, erring on the side of caution, might not be willing to prepare so many in advance, which was why he skipped the morning exercises to arrive early.

Indeed, the couple hadn't prepared four hundred buns ahead of time. When they saw Chang'an Fang arrive early and heard that there would be seven hundred today, they were startled, too busy to talk much, and hurried to get to work.

The buns already made weren't enough, so one watched the stove while the other continued wrapping. Chang'an Fang and Liu Cheng strapped a box of buns onto the bicycle, and then Chang'an helped watch the stove, allowing the shop owner's wife to join the wrapping.

Liu Cheng stood by, observing.

Although the couple was busy, they were delighted by the sudden influx of business. Smiles brightened their faces, their hands moved swiftly, and with cheerful energy, they said to Chang'an Fang, "You're moving so fast!"

The shop owner laughed, "Exactly! Goodness, you jumped up by more than two hundred buns!"

Chang'an Fang replied, "It might be even more in the future."

The shop owner's wife hesitated, sighed, and after a moment, said, "If there are too many, we might not be able to keep up."

The shop owner glanced at his wife but said nothing.

"Are you worried I might go find another shop?" Chang'an Fang understood their concern and smiled, "Don't worry. Your buns are big, affordable, and delicious. That's why my classmates want to buy them. If we went with another shop, five buns wouldn't be enough to fill up, more would be too expensive, and fewer people would buy."

"No, no, that's not what we meant." Exposed, the couple felt embarrassed and hurriedly denied it.

Chang'an Fang didn't mind and continued, "Besides, even now with over seven hundred buns a day, the impact on the cafeteria isn't that big. If it keeps growing, the cafeteria definitely won't agree."

The couple had only thought about making money, not about this angle. Hearing this, they both froze and their hands slowed involuntarily.

"The cafeteria pays the school every year. If they complain, the school might lock down the campus, and I won't even be able to leave the gates."

Chang'an Fang dropped this warning at just the right moment, smiling, "So if we can stabilize at over seven hundred buns a day, that's already pretty good."

The couple fell silent for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "Yes, that's right."

Chang'an Fang sighed inwardly. His words were meant as a precaution, but judging by the couple's expressions, he had struck a chord.

He had lived two lifetimes and, while not profoundly insightful about human nature, had enough experience to be cautious. Put simply, "One should never lack vigilance."

Shen Chengyan and Cheng Mengfei had grown up in comfort, never experiencing hardship. Their lives were currently happy, and through interaction, he could tell they had no obvious greed, so he was willing to gamble on human kindness.

But these two in front of him were middle-aged, tempered by life; even the most honest people have their own thoughts and calculations.

To change the current situation, he had shaved two cents off for three hundred buns, and last week, half-jokingly, set a price of seventy-five cents if sales exceeded seven hundred. If the price dropped to seventy, the couple probably wouldn't agree, but three hundred buns at eighty cents, and seven hundred without a price cut wouldn't make sense. Seventy-five cents hit their bottom line, so they agreed without much resistance.

Now that the buns exceeded seven hundred, giving up two and a half cents profit on each, even if they weren't thinking about it now, sooner or later they'd feel it wasn't worth it.

After all, if a child could bring in so much business, and their shop wasn't doing well, why not just move closer to the school? That way, they'd attract more customers and pocket all the profits.

People long in darkness often become feverish upon seeing the light. Though they might cool down before acting, no one can predict how things will unfold.

Chang'an Fang had a good impression of the couple, and had no better option. Unless necessary, he wanted to preserve the relationship.

This timely splash of cold water was needed. With real profits in front of them, as long as they understood the risks of being too aggressive, they'd likely choose to be content with their current situation.

This is the common trait of most ordinary people.

Of course, that isn't a flaw. Those who take risks and succeed shine, but failures are more common; only the successful are visible, while the bones of the failures remain unseen.

Though their mood was dampened, realizing the risks of moving the shop made Chang'an Fang's channel even more important, and the current profits clearer. Both were seasoned hands, and their efficiency didn't drop much.

Seven hundred and fifty buns, packed into two boxes, were ready faster than usual.

Chang'an Fang paid fifty-five yuan and fifty cents, and rode back with Liu Cheng.

Liu Cheng, still unsure why they bought seven hundred forty buns, hadn't noticed—nor dared to check—how much Chang'an Fang paid. After riding for a while, he finally asked, "Chang'an, why did you buy so many? Wasn't it supposed to be seven hundred?"

"I didn't count my own, plus Wei and his friends'."

"But they've probably already eaten, right?"

"It's fine, eating a couple more won't hurt. If they can't finish, they can share with classmates."

Liu Cheng caught on, "So this is like advertising, right?"

"Smart!"

Back at school, Chang'an Fang first returned to his own class, asked Wang Ke to help distribute, then delivered to Class One. Passing by Class Two, the last window opened and a boy leaned out, "Chang'an Fang, what about our class?"

Chang'an Fang asked in confusion, "Didn't your class not place an order today?"

The boy stared blankly. "We gave all our money to Fang Ying."

"I haven't received it," Chang'an Fang smiled. "Wait a bit, she won't cheat you out of your money."

—

Fang Ying had just arrived at a bun shop on the street, the fourth one she'd tried, because no one was willing to give her a discount.

At the first shop, she stopped her bicycle and sweetly asked the owner’s wife, "I want to buy a lot of buns, can you give me a discount?"

"How many do you want?"

"Seventy."

Last week, Fang Ying hadn't thought about making a profit by buying buns for her classmates, so she rarely promoted in Class Two. When Chang'an Fang mentioned it outside the window and classmates asked, she replied impatiently, so fewer people bought buns in Class Two than Class One.

Last night, Fang Ying changed her attitude and started promoting energetically. Thanks to everyone’s dislike of the cafeteria, ten people still wanted to buy, for a total of sixty-six buns.

It was an auspicious number, and Fang Ying set out confidently.

But the first shop owner, upon hearing seventy buns, was only willing to give two extra. She didn’t bother to reply, turned, and went to the shop across the street.

The owner across from them, perhaps overhearing her previous conversation, also only offered two more.

Annoyed, Fang Ying tried a third shop, but the result was the same.

It wasn't a matter of morals, but simply because the shops on the street had good business and didn't care about selling a few extra buns.

After several setbacks, Fang Ying finally got wiser at the fourth shop. She stopped her bike and called out sweetly, "Uncle! Auntie!"

After parking, she jogged to the stall, put on her sweetest smile, and asked, "I want seventy buns, can you give me a few extra?"

The owner looked her over in surprise, then waved her off, "No, we're just small business owners, not making much. Can't do it."

Fang Ying’s smile froze, and she stood stunned for a moment. Then she realized there were others at the stall; of course the owner wouldn't give her a deal in front of them. She considered going to another shop but worried about being late.

Her family was well-off and she was clever, never having suffered much. She considered waiting until the other customers left to ask again, but meeting the owner's impatient face, it felt like begging despite paying—her anger rose. She turned, got on her bike, and left.

Fang Ying was familiar with the area and tried another shop. Her mood was sour, but she forced herself to adjust her expression and tone. When she reached the stall, she quietly said, "Boss, I want to buy a lot of buns. Could you give me a few extra? I’m buying for my classmates, and I'll keep buying from you in the future."

The owner’s wife looked her up and down and asked, "How many do you want?"

"Seventy."

The owner’s wife thought for a moment, "Alright, I'll give you two extra."

She started packing buns, and Fang Ying hurriedly said, "That's too little. I’m buying so many, and I'll buy more in the future..."

The owner’s wife had just grabbed a bag but stopped and interrupted, "I'm barely making any money. Two is the most I can do. If you want more, try another shop."

Fang Ying hesitated, but didn't want to run around anymore. "Okay, but pack the biggest ones for me."

"Don't worry, ours are the biggest," the owner’s wife promised. Seventy buns were packed into a large bag. Fang Ying couldn’t fit it into her bike basket and had nowhere else to put it, so she squeezed it in, carefully rode back to school, and carried the hefty bag back to her classroom, just before seven forty.