Chapter 69 Sentiment Over Trend

Chapter 69 Sentiment Over Trend

It's payday again, the 15th.

"Uncle Wang, where are we going for team building?" the subordinate asked.

“Let’s go to…Golden Splendor,” he suddenly said.

"Huh? Hasn't that place been deserted for a long time?" The subordinate was taken aback.

"What do you know? Go and experience the sentiment." Uncle Wang smiled, a soft light shining in his eyes.

When he walked into the hall and saw the "memory wall," he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

One of the photos shows him and several old friends holding microphones and grinning, with the background depicting the store's golden age.

"Uncle Wang, do you know this place?" a colleague asked curiously.

"I not only know it, I used to come here often when I was young." He smiled, with a hint of youthful nostalgia in his eyes.

They ordered spicy crab, and the waiter enthusiastically recommended other signature dishes: spicy duck neck, crispy fried chicken wings, and a platter of secret-recipe braised meats...

Uncle Wang initially thought, "99 yuan, I'll just try it once." But when the plate of spicy crab was served, he immediately realized that this crab was no ordinary crab.

The crab shells were intact, the crab roe was plump, and every bit of crab meat was fresh, tender, and chewy. The spicy and savory flavors progressed in layers, making it spicy but not dry. Even a girl who doesn't usually eat spicy food couldn't help but eat a few more.

The portion was very generous, and it was completely authentic.

"This...this crab, it must be expensive, right?" he asked the waiter.

"Our boss said that 99 is a sentimental price, but the quality will absolutely not be compromised," the waiter replied with a smile.

Uncle Wang took a bite, his mouth was full of oil, and he nodded repeatedly.

He originally thought it was just for the novelty, but after the meal, he not only enjoyed the food but also experienced a long-lost sense of emotion.

When he went to pay the bill, it came to over two thousand. He was stunned: "Why is it so expensive?"

"Uncle Wang, everyone said it was delicious, so we ate a bit more and ordered a lot of their signature dishes," the colleague said with a smile.

"Worth it!" Uncle Wang slapped the table, laughing and nodding. "This meal was definitely worth it!"

Back at the company, he recommended it to everyone he met: "You know what? I had the best spicy crab I've ever had in my life at an old KTV! It was even better than those fancy restaurants!"

After hearing this, the leader laughed heartily: "Uncle Wang, I admire your sentimental spending! I've been to Golden Glory before, and the employees all said it was great for team building. You've worked hard, so I'll give you a bonus next quarter!"

Uncle Wang was all smiles, and when he got home that evening, he posted another message on his WeChat Moments:

"I found a gem in this old KTV! The spicy crab for 99 yuan is even better than some big restaurants! It's so juicy, spicy, and flavorful, everyone at the table said it was worth it! This place was definitely worth the trip!"

Photo caption: A plate of bright red and tempting spicy crab, and a group photo of raising a glass with old friends.

This post on WeChat Moments has once again gone viral among middle-aged people in Fucheng.

Meanwhile, Jin Xuan, sitting opposite at Trendy K, watched the constant stream of positive reviews and trending topics about "Golden Brilliance" popping up on her phone, her knuckles turning slightly white as she gripped the phone.

She suddenly understood—

This is not just a price war, but a contest of memory, emotion, and taste.

This time, it seems she has already lost.

Jin Xuan didn't want to lose; she wanted to win. She had already sacrificed so much for this trendy K store.

She'd gotten a lot of money from her parents during a recent promotion. While the cash flow looked good on the surface, she knew her real purpose wasn't to get money, but to show Ye Bingbin that she, Jin Xuan, was capable in business, far superior to Su Yingxue. It would be his loss if he didn't want her.

The manager in the back office gave her an idea: "It's just spicy crab, why don't we make spicy crab too? And we have to make it better than the other side."

Jin Xuan thought for a moment, then looked at the resume in her hand. She had specially recruited a seafood chef from the neighboring city. "It's just spicy crab. I've decided to turn the tables on this one."

"Boss, should we buy frozen crab or fresh crab?" the store manager asked again. Jin Xuan felt a little annoyed. She casually said, "This is a small matter, you two can discuss it yourselves. I'm going on a date with my girlfriends."

The manager is a smart man; he was the one who came up with all the ideas and plans for the opening.

He watched Jin Xuan's hurried departure. A disdainful smile appeared on his lips. "Does she really think she's some kind of pampered young lady?" He plopped down in Jin Xuan's seat.

"Why use live crabs? Use frozen crabs everywhere. Tell the chef we hired to add extra Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers to mask the scum. It's just to boost sales. Our business is booming. We're competing with Golden Brilliant across the street. I almost laugh. What's so interesting about that old-fashioned KTV?"

He finished making the arrangements and took out his phone to speak to the original chef.

Jin Xuan walked out of the "Trend K" store in her high heels, completely unaware of the disdainful sneer in the manager's eyes behind her. She was in a good mood, at least on the surface—after all, she had just escaped a boring meeting and was meeting her best friend at the newly opened beauty salon.

"Anyway, with the manager here, I don't need to worry about these little things," she muttered to herself, dialing her best friend's number. "Hey, Yuxin, I'm almost there. Are you ready on your end?"

Zhao Yuxin's excited voice came from the other end of the phone: "Jin Xuan, you're finally here! I've been waiting for you for so long! Today we're going to use that new luxury face mask that just arrived; I heard it's super expensive!"

"What's wrong with being expensive?" Jin Xuan proudly raised her chin. "My business has been booming lately, so spending a little money is nothing."

Hanging up the phone, Jin Xuan got into the red sports car parked at the door. She glanced at the gleaming "Trendy KTV" sign out of the corner of her eye, a sense of satisfaction welling up inside her. This KTV was her brainchild; from site selection to decoration, from recruitment to marketing, she had personally participated in every step. Although she had her parents' support, she had proven herself to everyone—including Ye Bingbin, who had once rejected her.

"Once I close a few more big deals, I'll make Ye Bingbin regret it." Jin Xuan gripped the steering wheel tightly, and the red sports car sped away from the commercial street like an arrow.

Meanwhile, in the back office of "Trend K", the manager slowly sat down, took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, Mr. Li, it's me. Yes, I'm the manager of 'Trend K'. The boss just said we're going to make spicy crab too, and we'll make it even better than 'Golden Glory' across the street."

The manager paused, and after hearing the chef's response on the other end of the phone, a sly smile crept onto his lips. "Frozen crab will do; the customers won't be able to tell the difference. Yes, add plenty of Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers, make the flavor stronger, and mask the taste of the frozen crab."

On the other end of the phone, the new seafood chef, Chef Li, hesitated noticeably: "But manager, frozen crabs and live crabs taste quite different, and..."

“Master Li,” the manager interrupted him, his tone suddenly turning serious, “I poached you from the next city with a high salary, and the boss has high expectations for you. But now you’re the one who’s going to ruin this opportunity. Think about it, do you listen to me and do it my way, guaranteeing you this month’s bonus, or…” He deliberately dragged out his words.