txolops Chapter 56 Cracking Down on Scalpers
Chapter 56 Cracking Down on Scalpers
"Uncle Liu, Uncle Zhao, Aunt Li Na, you're here today too?"
Tangtang sat on her little stool and, upon seeing the three of them, immediately looked up and happily greeted them.
"Yes, Tangtang, your aunt and uncle have no energy after get off work because they don't eat your dad's cooking all day."
Liu Wei smiled and replied, then took out his phone to scan the QR code, "Brother Wang, three servings, please."
Our department isn't working overtime today, so we don't need to pack food; we can eat here.
"Alright! You three can sit here."
Wang Hai pointed to the side of the stall.
"Okay, thank you, Brother Wang."
Liu Wei took the three servings of fried rice and three bowls of clear soup, and called to Zhao Qiang and Li Na, "Come on, come on, sit down and eat while it's hot."
The three walked to the folding table, pulled out small stools, and sat down.
Lifting the lid, a bite of fried rice paired with a sip of soup, the three of them ate with great satisfaction.
"It's so comfortable here with tables and chairs; it's much better than eating standing up yesterday."
Li Na took a sip of soup and sighed contentedly.
At the food stall, the pace of food preparation remained fast.
"Next!"
Wang Hai shouted loudly.
A young man in a building security guard uniform walked up quickly.
He wasn't wearing a hat, two buttons of his uniform were undone, and he was clutching his phone tightly in his hand.
"Boss, give me eight servings!"
Pack everything up!
The young security guard said loudly.
"Eight portions?"
Wang Hai was stunned for a moment.
This was quite a quantity, but he didn't ask any further questions. He skillfully pulled out eight takeout boxes and placed them on the table. "Okay, scan the code. It's 792 in total."
Lin Chen stood in front of the stove, his spatula never stopping, preparing to turn up the heat and stir-fry.
Just then, the young security guard's cell phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, answered immediately, and his tone became extremely obsequious.
"Feed? Mr. Li! Yes, yes, I've already been put on the waiting list!"
The young security guard covered his mouth, but his voice still escaped: "Don't worry, we've bought all eight portions."
As for the price... we agreed that it would be two hundred yuan for a meal with rice and soup.
You can just transfer the 1,600 yuan to me via WeChat.
I'll take it to the conference room for you right away!
The young security guard hung up the phone, his face beaming with undisguised smugness. He turned to Wang Hai and urged, "Hurry up, the boss upstairs is waiting!"
"Click".
A soft sound.
Lin Chen turned off the gas stove valve with his left hand.
The flames went out instantly, and the sizzling sound from the iron pot stopped abruptly.
Wang Hai's hand, which was about to pick up a soup ladle, froze in mid-air. He turned his head with some confusion and asked, "Brother Chen, why did you turn off the stove?"
It's not finished cooking yet.
Lin Chen ignored Wang Hai.
He put down the shovel, picked up the towel draped beside him to wipe his hands, looked up, and stared at the young security guard.
I won't sell you your food.
Lin Chen spoke up.
The young security guard was stunned, his smug expression instantly freezing: "What did you say?"
You're not selling? Why shouldn't I? I can just scan the code and pay, can't I?
"I don't need your money."
Lin Chen looked at him and said, "My food is only sold to people who line up to eat."
We won't sell to scalpers who profit from the price difference.
"Who's the scalper?!"
The young security guard jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his face flushed. "I was just helping the executives upstairs get some food. What's wrong with charging a small delivery fee?"
"You're just a roadside vendor, I'll give you money and you can make your money, why are you meddling in other people's business!"
"A price difference of one hundred yuan, that's not called a delivery fee, that's called reselling."
Lin Chen's gaze remained unwavering. "You can leave, but I won't sell to you."
"you……"
The young security guard pointed at Lin Chen, furious.
Liu Wei and his two companions, who were eating at a folding table nearby, had already heard everything that had just been said.
"Well done, Boss Lin!"
Liu Wei put down his lunchbox and stood up from his small stool. "These bastards deserve to be taught a lesson!"
"No wonder there were so many unfamiliar faces in the group today. Turns out they've got this as a way to make money!"
Zhao Qiang also stood up and looked at the security guard: "Your security team shouldn't be patrolling properly, but instead you're here reselling fried rice to make money off the executives."
Believe it or not, I'll call your property manager right now and complain about you.
Li Na sat on a small stool and gave the security guard a disdainful look: "Wearing the property management uniform to do scalping, you've completely disgraced our building."
"Get out of here, don't get in the way!"
The young security guard panicked when he saw this.
He just wanted to take advantage of the fried rice's popularity, so that the executives wouldn't have time to come down and queue, and make some dirty money off them.
If these executives actually call the property manager, he'll lose his job.
"You're ruthless! You'd be a fool not to make money when you can!"
The young security guard gritted his teeth, glared fiercely at Lin Chen, then slunk away, squeezing through the crowd and running off.
There were originally two other security guards in the queue, both wearing uniforms. Upon seeing this, they quickly lowered their heads, quietly withdrew from the queue, and disappeared without a trace.
Watching those figures leave, Lin Chen picked up a clean rag and wiped the edge of the iron pot.
Then, he turned around and glanced at the forty or fifty white-collar workers in line.
"Everyone."
Lin Chen spoke, his voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone in the team to hear clearly.
The crowd fell silent instantly.
"I set up a stall here and earn money through everyone's hard work and support."
People coming to line up on empty stomachs after get off work is a testament to my cooking skills.
Lin Chen's expression was serious as he said, word by word, "Therefore, I am setting an ironclad rule in front of everyone today."
"At my stall, queuing is the only rule."
"Whether you are an ordinary employee or a senior executive, if you want a hot meal, you should obediently come down and line up."
I welcome colleagues helping each other bring lunch.
Lin Chen paused, his tone turning cold and hard, "However, anyone who tries to use my pot to resell in queues or make a profit as a scalper will be dealt with accordingly."
Once discovered, immediately blacklisted and never sold to again.
"I'd rather throw this food in the trash than let it become a tool for scalpers to make money."
As soon as Lin Chen finished speaking, the square fell silent for two seconds.
Followed by.
"good!!!"
Liu Wei was the first to shout "Bravo!" and clapped enthusiastically.
Zhao Qiang and Li Na also clapped enthusiastically: "The boss is awesome!"
That's how it should be! Otherwise, those of us who patiently queue up will eventually be squeezed out by scalpers and won't even get a sip of soup!
The white-collar workers in line echoed the sentiment, and applause resounded.
"The boss has set some excellent rules!"
"Now, anything that becomes popular gets scalped, they'll even scalp a piece of fried rice, it's disgusting."
"Exactly! The boss would rather forgo profits than indulge them; his character is impeccable!"
"Ninety-nine yuan is a bit pricey, but I feel at ease eating here without worrying about being ripped off!"
Lin Chen nodded slightly as he observed the crowd's reaction.
He turned around again and pressed the knob with his left hand.
"Click".
The flames reignited.
Lin Chen picked up the shovel: "Continue."
Next.
Standing to the side, Wang Hai watched as the group of customers, who not only didn't complain about the wait but became even more enthusiastic and devoted, felt an overwhelming sense of admiration for Lin Chen.
Brother Chen's temper and composure are simply amazing!
Not only did they not lose followers, their brand actually became even more established!
Wang Hai's eyes lit up, and he immediately seized this excellent opportunity.
Dear brothers and sisters!
Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me!
Wang Hai raised his hands and pressed them down, then shouted loudly.
The crowd turned their attention to Wang Hai again.
Wang Hai cleared his throat, a broad smile on his face: "Since everyone is so supportive of Brother Chen's rules, I think we should just create a WeChat group!"
"Before setting up the stall each day, or if there are any changes due to wind or rain, I will send a notice in the group in advance."
That way everyone will know when we'll be there, so they don't make a wasted trip!
Upon hearing this suggestion, the white-collar workers in the group immediately brightened up.
"That's great! Let's create a group chat!"
"Show me your QR code, I'll be the first to add you!"
"Yes, yes, yes, having a group chat makes things so much easier. It saves me from having to guess every day in the office whether the boss is out selling his wares or not!"
Wang Hai immediately took out his old phone, opened WeChat, created a group chat called "Boss Lin's Fried Rice Squad," and then brought up the group's QR code and enlarged it on the screen.
"Come on, scan my QR code to join the group!"
Wang Hai is holding up his phone.
"Uncle and Auntie, let me get it!"
Tangtang stood up from the stool, ran over, and took Wang Hai's phone with her two little hands.
Tangtang held up her phone screen, tilted her little face up, and called out in a clear voice, "Uncles and aunties, scan here!"
But bad people aren't allowed in our group; only those who obediently line up can join!
"Hahaha, Tangtang is right!"
Liu Wei was the first to step forward, take out his phone, scan the QR code, and say, "First to join the group!"
"I'll scan it too!"
Zhao Qiang and Li Na also joined in.
"Excuse me, let me join too!"
The forty or fifty people in line all took out their phones and started scanning the small screen that Tangtang was holding up.
In less than five minutes, the new group "Boss Lin's Fried Rice Squad" had more than fifty members, and the number was still increasing.
Lin Chen was methodically stirring the rice at the stove, listening to the constant beeping of the QR code scanning behind him and Tangtang's happy laughter.
His hands didn't stop moving, but a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Two portions, that's all."
Lin Chen pushed the fried rice to the side of the table.
"Okay! Two portions to go!"
Wang Hai quickly packed the package and handed it to the customer.
In the early summer evening, the atmosphere in the square became even more harmonious.
Without the interference of scalpers, the team moved forward steadily and orderly.