"What if only one or two people co on certain days? Should we still heat the bathhouse water and prepare food? No matter how well the storyteller speaks, how many people will listen? What kind of hype does it bring?"
Ye Muyu explained the reasoning to him in detail.
Shopkeeper Zhang, upon hearing this, was enlightened and looked at Ye Muyu with admiration: "Madam, you are right. This shop needs to liven up its custor base as well."
"Yes, and if a custor insists on using their official status to book a private room, how should you persuade them, Shopkeeper?"
Hearing this, Shopkeeper Zhang realized she was testing him, and after so thought, he cautiously replied, truthfully without hiding anything: "I would start with good manners, but if gentle persuasion doesn’t work, I might have to resort to stronger asures."
"That works too. I also have a suggestion: Shopkeeper Zhang, why not think from the guest’s perspective? Persuade them to give up the private room and enjoy the main bathhouse, where it’s the sa experience. Not all officials are wealthy. There are those who, confident in their talents, might feel that if our bathhouse hierarchy is too strict, it would actually raise the entry barrier and reduce business, wouldn’t it?"
"I understand now." Shopkeeper Zhang had an epiphany upon hearing this. Even though he had considered many things, he hadn’t noticed the negative impact of this aspect.
He only thought that persuading lower-ranking officials to leave without causing trouble for the business was a positive thing.
However, he didn’t consider that if these officials were concerned about face and felt embarrassed to use the main bathhouse, considering it low-class, they might avoid the place altogether in the future.
And then ordinary people like him, upon hearing these rumors, would they even dare to visit the bathhouse?
Realizing the importance of this subtle point.
Shopkeeper Zhang felt a wave of relief wash over him.
Soon enough, a solution ca to him, and it was Ye Muyu’s words that had inspired him.
"Madam, I once encountered an Imperial Censor loitering outside the bathhouse. It seed like he was critiquing sothing, and it seed to be Officer Qin, who is not well-off. Despite speaking sharply, he is not the type to make baseless argunts, but is rather earnest. I plan to invite him in; what do you think?"
Ye Muyu smiled, "Since you already have an idea, go ahead and do it."
"Thank you for your guidance, Madam." Shopkeeper Zhang admired Ye Muyu a little more now; the arrogance he had from being proud of his own skills was almost completely gone, and he worked more diligently.
Afterward, Shopkeeper Zhang went to resolve the matter.
After persuading Officer Qin to co in for a bath, he reasoned that bathing was not about social status, but anyone could pay for comfort.
Later on, when so officials ca wanting to book the whole floor for a bath.
Shopkeeper Zhang first politely refused, then said with a smile: "Lord Zhou, you may not know, but Officer Qin and Lord Wang are also on the first floor enjoying the bath and listening to stories. Booking a private room isn’t necessary. It only costs a dozen or so wen for an hour, and coming once for a soak isn’t much of an expense and won’t affect your life much. You can enjoy a comfortable bath, chat with colleagues, and listen to stories. Isn’t that nice?"
This Lord Zhou, whose family wasn’t wealthy and lived off his salary, was quite pleased to hear the price wasn’t high. Just a dozen or so wen was much cheaper for him, a poor official, compared to inns and taverns.
He didn’t really want to co, but he couldn’t resist as all his colleagues were coming too.
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