Su Xiao Si’s question in return, instead of answering, caused a moment of surprise on Qu Zi Bai’s face.
He even suspected if Su Xiao Si had become too arrogant, to speak to a reporter in such a manner.
He was a reporter for the Beijing Daily, and everyone in Beijing knew the influence the Beijing Daily held within the city’s media landscape.
Many businesses, when opening or celebrating important events, hoped to invite reporters from the Beijing Daily to cover them.
After all, one report was equivalent to a free advertisement, and a highly influential one at that.
Although he had contacted them proactively this time, any smart person could see this was an advertisement delivered to their doorstep.
Of course, his presence was partly due to the novelty of the milk tea shop, and partly because he personally admired Su Si Jian.
As the pen of the Beijing Daily, his interview today was purely free advertising for the milk tea shop.
This was an opportunity many businesses longed for. If it were anyone else, they would eagerly answer why, or even rush to explain without being asked.
What did this Mr. Su mean by asking a question in return?
In a short time, Qu Zi Bai had thought of many things.
Just as Qu Zi Bai was contemplating how to continue the interview, he heard Su Xiao Si speak again.
“If Reporter Qu had done business, you wouldn’t ask that. No matter what business you do, there are cost inputs. Milk tea is a small business, and the smaller the shop, the lower the cost.”
“Although shops in Beijing cannot be described as worth their weight in gold at the moment, the costs are indeed not small. I am an individual operator without strong capital support, so naturally, I do everything I can to save money.”
“Especially for small shops like this, most people wouldn’t be interested, and thus wouldn’t want to lease them, making the price a bit cheaper than other commercial properties. We business people really have it tough!”
As Su Xiao Si said this, he also appropriately displayed his predicament.
If Qu Zi Bai had not done the most basic research on Su Xiao Si, he might have believed that Su Xiao Si was truly a small individual operator who only opened a few shops.
But he had researched Qu Zi Bai, and naturally knew the actual situation.
“Mr. Su, your words are truly too modest. I heard you’ve opened several food courts, and the business is quite good!”
Without the initial accumulation of capital, the young man before him would not have been able to open over twenty shops in one go.
“The food court business is good, but the expenses are also not small. Compared to large corporations, mine is just small-scale tinkering.”
“You are right about one thing, the prices of shops in Beijing have risen very quickly in recent years.”
Qu Zi Bai was quite knowledgeable in this area.
The fact that shop rents in Beijing were rising year after year was undeniable.
A shop that could be rented for a hundred yuan three years ago might not be available for six or seven hundred now.
However, no matter how much shop rents in Beijing increased, it wouldn’t be to the extent of renting such a small shop.
With his reporter’s intuition, Qu Zi Bai firmly believed that the rising rent was definitely not the reason Su Si Jian leased a small shop.
“Then, may I ask Mr. Su, have you considered where customers will sit to drink their milk tea?”
Qu Zi Bai stopped beating around the bush and asked directly.
“I am a businessman, and naturally, my goal is profit. Of course, I have considered the issue of where customers will sit to drink milk tea.”
Hearing there was a chance, Qu Zi Bai immediately perked up, his eyes almost shining.
“Mr. Su, can you elaborate?” Qu Zi Bai held his pen and notebook, ready to write.
Then, just as he was prepared, he heard Su Xiao Si speak.
“Can I keep this a secret for now? Everyone will know when the milk tea shop opens on Sunday.”
Su Xiao Si had no intention of answering all the questions thoroughly now.
It was rare to have a reporter come for an interview. If everything was explained in the article, what would be the point?
People are curious. Only by leaving some suspense can one attract others’ attention.
Su Xiao Si, who had been in business for many years, understood this perfectly.
Qu Zi Bai hadn’t expected Su Xiao Si to stop talking at such a crucial point, and he felt his excitement was in vain.
“Mr. Su, is it not even possible to leak a little bit of information?”
“In short, we will give everyone a surprise on that day, and I guarantee everyone will be satisfied!” Su Xiao Si said with a smile.
Naturally, they would be satisfied. Sitting down to drink a cup of milk tea wouldn’t have much significance. If they could take it away, he believed many people would like it.
Qu Zi Bai then shifted to discussing other aspects with Su Xiao Si.
Su Xiao Si was very cooperative. In over an hour, Qu Zi Bai drank several cups of milk tea and asked many questions. They even felt like they were getting along better and better.
“Mr. Su, one last question, how did you come up with the name Su Xiao Mei for the milk tea?”
This was a question Qu Zi Bai was very curious about. After all, there was no way to connect Su Si Jian himself with the words “Xiao Mei” (little sister).
But from their earlier conversation, the milk tea shop was indeed Mr. Su’s property, and there was no hidden boss behind it.
“Because I have a little sister named Xiao Mei at home. She came up with the idea for the milk tea. Since she is the youngest child in our family, I used the name Su Xiao Mei!”
As Su Xiao Si said this, the pride on his face was almost impossible to hide.
How could Qu Zi Bai not see how genuinely Su Xiao Si liked his sister?
It was just that he didn’t know what kind of person this Su Xiao Mei he mentioned was.
Mr. Su was a very outstanding person. His sister, who could come up with milk tea and lead a trend, must also be very excellent.
Although he hadn’t met Su Xiao Tian herself yet, Qu Zi Bai already had a good impression of Su Xiao Tian.
“I wonder if I have the honor of meeting Mr. Su’s sister. I believe Miss Su is also a very outstanding person.”
Qu Zi Bai’s words struck a chord with Su Xiao Si, and his tone immediately became cheerful, completely different from the calm tone he had during the interview.
“My little sister is indeed very outstanding. She was the top scorer in the college entrance examination in Beijing and later studied at Beijing University.”
As Su Xiao Si said this, Qu Zi Bai suddenly thought of someone.
“Could it be that the sister Mr. Su is referring to is Su Xiao Tian?”
“How did Reporter Qu guess that?” This time, it was Su Xiao Si’s turn to be surprised.
Although his younger sister was a bit outstanding, she wasn’t so outstanding that others could guess just by hearing a little bit, right?
Could it be that Xiao Mei was already so well-known?
“Mr. Su, I am a graduate of Beijing University. In my third year, a junior student named Su Xiao Tian came to Beijing University. I don’t know why, but when you mentioned she was the top scorer, I thought of this junior student.”
Although Qu Zi Bai was two years ahead of Su Xiao Tian, he greatly admired, and even felt a sense of respect for, Su Xiao Tian.
Why?
It was because Su Xiao Tian, despite majoring in Chinese Language and Literature, had developed comprehensively in all aspects, practically being a beacon of light for their Chinese department.
He just hadn’t expected that this Mr. Su would be Su Xiao Tian’s brother.
He had heard before that all the children in the Su family had been admitted to universities, and very good ones at that.
Therefore, this Mr. Su should be one of them too.
It was no wonder Mr. Su had developed so well, doing business with a high level of education.
Knowledge is power, and knowledge is the future!