I Have a Five-star Seaside Hotel

"Sir, our app offers daily coupons. You can claim one anytime you want to have coffee. It's very convenient," Feng Di said enthusiastically.

Zhu Songzhou glanced at his phone app and indeed found a "Daily Coupon" event. According to the event details, the app would give members at least one 50% off coupon every day, with occasional additional 80% or 30% off coupons.

With this, the price of a cup of coffee became very affordable.

Earlier, he had thought that Summer Momo Café's prices were comparable to those of large chains like Moon New Source.

But now, it seemed their pricing was actually targeting fast-food Western restaurants like Golden Chicken Wings King and Bread Fries Pot.

This strategy is bold!

Zhu Songzhou gave Summer Momo Café a deep look, further convinced that the café had strong financial backing.

If Summer Momo didn't have substantial capital support, selling coffee with such heavy discounts and giveaways would have bankrupted any other café in no time.

What surprised him even more was that the café accepted cash payments.

"Not many shops accept cash these days," Zhu Songzhou remarked sincerely after scanning the payment code with his phone.

"Well, there are many older folks on the island," Feng Di explained with a smile. "They're not used to mobile payments and prefer using cash. So, we accept cash to make it convenient for everyone!"

"Sir, here's your number tag. The screen will display when your coffee is ready. Please keep an eye on it."

With that, Feng Di handed Zhu Songzhou the coffee tag and quickly turned to prepare the coffee.

"This café is quite interesting, and the boss seems to have a good head on his shoulders," Zhu Songzhou thought to himself as he sat on a round high stool, growing more and more satisfied with the place.

Having worked as a mall consultant for so many years, he had seen countless rises and falls.

Numerous coffee shops and milk tea stores opened like leeks, only to close just as quickly, only to reopen again...

Everyone opens a shop to make money,

but many fail at the simple task of "surviving."

For a new shop, profitability is important, but "surviving" is even more crucial.

Under the fierce competition from large chains like Moon New Source, Summer Momo didn't chase profits. Instead, it focused on the local market, retaining the island's customers, which laid a solid foundation for its survival in the mall.

Moreover, the café's financial backing was strong enough to cover the entry fees and daily rents of other large malls.

If the deal went through, his commission might even increase a bit.

As Zhu Songzhou was assessing Summer Momo's potential, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a booklet on the coffee table.

"What's this?"

Curious, Zhu Songzhou picked up the booklet and flipped through it.

The booklet was small, about the size of a B5 sheet, with the cover titled "Summer Momo Coffee User Manual."

The entire booklet was printed on blue-green paper, resembling a beautifully crafted comic book. Each page introduced a different coffee.

The descriptions covered everything from the ingredients and the roast level of the coffee beans to whether the drink was iced and its sweetness level.

It even categorized the coffees into several broad groups based on sweetness, helping those unfamiliar with coffee to choose a drink tailored to their taste.

"This manual is quite interesting!"

Zhu Songzhou flipped to the "Slightly Bitter, Rich Aroma" category and was surprised by the detailed descriptions.

Although coffee is now widely popular,

apart from well-known drinks like Americano, Latte, and Cappuccino, many people don't really understand the different brewing methods and blends.

Even he himself often chose Americano simply because it was a safe, energizing option.

If asked whether he truly enjoyed it, he might not be so sure.

"I should have ordered the Summer Momo Toffee Coconut Sea Romance Coffee," Zhu Songzhou thought regretfully as he read the description.

If he weren't worried about his heart racing from too much coffee, he would have loved to try the Toffee Coconut Sea Romance Coffee.

Summer Momo's drinks were prepared quickly.

After about five minutes, the Summer Momo Classic Americano and Hazelnut Cream Square were ready.

"Wow... this dessert is amazing!!"

Zhu Songzhou's eyes lit up as he saw the Hazelnut Cream Square on the exquisite small tray.

The light, fluffy cream looked like clouds gently resting on a soft, yellow cake base. Plump hazelnuts mixed with dark chocolate chips were generously pressed into the cream, as if someone had stolen a squirrel's winter stash. It seemed like squeezing it would release a handful of nutty aroma.

Despite the lavish ingredients,

the pastry chef had gone a step further by sprinkling a layer of fine, smooth chocolate powder on top, enhancing the hazelnut and chocolate flavors blended with the rich cream.

Zhu Songzhou picked up a small silver fork, took a bite of the Hazelnut Cream Square,

and instantly, the delicate and fragrant cake base melted in his mouth.

The crispy hazelnuts and the silky dark chocolate chips intertwined, creating a taste that could cure any depression!!!

For a moment, Zhu Songzhou's glasses reflected a frantic glint of delight!!!

"What's that flashing light?"

"Is some kid playing with marbles?"

At the counter, Feng Di kept feeling a flickering light behind him.

He stole a glance toward the source but only saw a middle-aged man enjoying his cake at the coffee table. There were no kids playing with marbles.

"Did I imagine it?"

Feng Di doubted himself for a moment before turning back to making coffee.

Meanwhile, Zhu Songzhou was thoroughly enjoying his Hazelnut Cream Square. Eating it so quickly made him feel a bit stuffed, so he instinctively took a sip of the Summer Momo Classic Americano.

Instantly!!!

The first sip balanced the coffee's rich aroma and bitterness with the sweetness of the Hazelnut Cream Square.

The second sip revealed the coffee's complex, layered fruity acidity and aroma, blending seamlessly with the coffee bean's natural oils, spreading gently across his tongue and teeth.

With each sip, the coffee's bean aroma and freshness became more pronounced.

By the end, Zhu Songzhou found himself genuinely appreciating the beauty of coffee!

So, this bitter drink can actually taste amazing!!!

And all of this cost only 13.2 yuan!

Five stars!

Definitely a five-star rating!!!

In his mind, Zhu Songzhou was enthusiastically holding up a five-star rating for Summer Momo.

Based on the Hazelnut Cream Square and the Summer Momo Classic Americano, this café was definitely a winner.

"But..."

"Why is such a talented pastry chef working in a small island café instead of opening their own cake shop?"

Zhu Songzhou took another bite of the Hazelnut Cream Square, his mind filled with this existential question.

"Hey, did you make this cake?" Zhu Songzhou asked curiously.

Feng Di laughed, "I don't have that kind of skill!"

"These desserts are delivered daily by the Jasmine Hotel's pastry team. We just sell them here."

"Delivered by the Jasmine Hotel?"

Zhu Songzhou was surprised. He was currently staying at the Jasmine Hotel on the island.

While he knew some cafés collaborated with local pastry shops, partnering with a hotel was a first for him.

"You must have some good connections to strike a deal with a hotel!"

"Ah, it's nothing like that. The boss of our café is also the boss of the Jasmine Hotel. We're all under the same owner."

As they chatted,

the café door suddenly opened, and Chen Jianhai walked in confidently, holding a cup of Moon New Source coffee.

"Old Feng!"

"Brother Chen?!"

Seeing Chen Jianhai, Feng Di's eyes lit up instantly!!

Zhu Songzhou also obediently closed his mouth, curiously watching Chen Jianhai.

"When did you get back? Why isn't Brother Lang with you?" Feng Di, who hadn't seen Chen Jianhai in a while, was visibly excited.

Although Chen Jianhai was now his boss,

Feng Di had always called him "Brother Chen" since their days sweating and crying together while selling barbecue. The habit stuck, and Feng Di never changed it.

Chen Jianhai also enjoyed being addressed this way.

"I just arrived this afternoon. Brother Lang is having too much fun in Zaomen and probably won't be back for a while," Chen Jianhai said, clearly in a good mood.

Since it was his first time at the island mall,

Chen Jianhai was unfamiliar with the entrances and layout. He had entered through the Moon New Source café entrance and had to circle around several times before finding his own shop.

But the trip wasn't wasted.

Chen Jianhai had bought a classic coffee at Moon New Source and sat there for a while.

From his observation,

Moon New Source, as a large national chain, met standardized expectations in terms of order speed,店内装修 (interior decor), and service quality.

There were no major flaws, but nothing stood out either. The seating rate was average.

In short, it was decent but nothing extraordinary.

In contrast, his own little café was bustling. Not only were there islanders sitting with coffee, reading books, and enjoying pastries, but there were also many people on the island's pedestrian paths and in the mall holding Summer Momo coffee cups.

However, there was one thing he was very dissatisfied with!

"Why is our advertising so lacking?"

"I see banners and rolling screens in the mall filled with Moon New Source ads. Even the roadside billboards on the island are all Moon New Source. Why aren't we doing any advertising?!"

Chen Jianhai voiced his confusion.

Feng Di sighed helplessly.

"Brother Chen, I wanted to advertise, but we were too late."

Chen Jianhai was puzzled. "Too late? How?"

Feng Di explained, "Before the island mall officially opened, Moon New Source had already bought up all the advertising spaces. By the time we wanted to buy, there were no spots left. We have to wait until their contracts expire before we can take over."

He paused, then added with a bitter smile:

"Summer Momo is a new shop, and we don't have much capital. Without any significant results, I didn't feel comfortable asking you for money."

"Luckily, our island friends have been amazing. They've been promoting us voluntarily, and the results are just as good as paid advertising."

Hearing this, Chen Jianhai's expression turned serious.

"That's not the point."

"Who says you need results to advertise?!"

"Back when Langai Hotel was on the verge of bankruptcy, it was through online promotions and ads that we attracted customers and slowly turned things around."

If it were Xiao Lang here instead of him, Feng Di would have been scolded mercilessly.

In such a competitive environment, where rivals are biting at each other's heels,

if you don't seize every opportunity to gain an advantage from the start, when will you?

Besides, was Chen Jianhai short on advertising money?

Saving money shouldn't come at such a cost!

"In short, don't be afraid to spend money where it's needed. Don't think that just because the other side is a national chain, we shouldn't compete."

"We must compete when necessary, and we must act when needed!"

"Keep an eye out for suitable advertising spots on the island. Once you find one, contact me directly. I'll cover the costs."

Chen Jianhai took a sip of his Moon New Source coffee, embodying the image of a wealthy but simple-minded landowner.

"Got it, Brother Chen."

With Chen Jianhai's approval, Feng Di instantly felt more confident and answered with renewed vigor.

Previously, he had been holding back, waiting for Summer Momo's business to pick up before asking for funds for promotions.

But now, he didn't need to wait!

It felt great to have a powerful backer.

Seeing that Chen Jianhai seemed to be in a good mood, Feng Di cautiously asked:

"Brother Chen, could you assign another person to my café?"

"It's not that we're lazy,"

"but the two of us are really struggling to keep up."

Hearing this, the other café employee nodded vigorously.

It was truly exhausting!

With the constant flow of tourists and islanders buying desserts and drinks, sometimes they were so busy that they didn't even have time to drink water, let alone rest their legs.

"That's not a problem. I'll assign someone from the island to help you," Chen Jianhai agreed without hesitation.

"Is there anything else you need besides staff?"

Feng Di quickly replied, "Nothing else for now. We just need more people and more advertising. That's it."

"Alright. I'll be in Nanjiang for a few more days. If you need anything for the café, let me know anytime. Don't hesitate to ask," Chen Jianhai said earnestly.

Although Summer Momo wasn't as significant as the hotels, Chen Jianhai had invested a considerable amount of points into it.

His level of commitment to the café was no less than that of his other projects.

After giving Feng Di a few more instructions, Chen Jianhai hurried off toward the Jasmine Hotel.

Neither he nor Feng Di noticed the intense, admiring gaze Zhu Songzhou directed at Chen Jianhai's retreating figure!