In the following time, Li Weizheng did not interfere in the Gu family's business. As long as they had capital, they naturally knew what to do. Gu Ying was like his father, and was very cautious in doing things. She did not rush to recruit workers and expand the store, but closed the store and invited more than a dozen temporary helpers. The whole family went all out to make cakes. According to the standard operating method taught by Li Weizheng, each employee performed his own responsibilities and operated according to fixed standards. The core formula was handled by Gu Li and his son. This not only greatly improved efficiency, but also did not have to worry about the leakage of the formula.

In addition, the packaging is assembled in patterns and colors. That is, assemble all kinds of pastries into a pack, wrap them in paper and put them in a small bag with the Gu family logo. Each bag is priced consistently, which avoids the trouble of scattered selling and can be shipped quickly. Although these are just tips for production and operation, they are deeply rooted in the essence of standardization and scale in later industrial production.

What made Li Weizheng feel very pleased was that Gu Ying was clear at a glance. When the family was looking forward to the future, Gu Li proposed that only finished products could be produced in the future, and cakes could be sold to small vendors for retail sales, but Gu Ying firmly opposed it. She believed that this would make imitators grow up and ruin the Gu family's brand. She even opposed Li Weizheng's concept of a same-city chain store, believing that not only would a big tree attract the wind, but also would also cause counterfeits to make the people of Suzhou at a loss. Only by opening a store can the counterfeits be unable to start. At the same time, the price should be increased and the packaging should be strengthened, so that the Gu family's cakes would become royal tributes and a good product for wealthy families to entertain guests. In this way, the Gu Ji cakes brand will be passed down from generation to generation.

Gu Ying's concept of positioning the high-end market made Li Weizheng deeply agree. The reason why some century-old stores in later generations survived was to try every means to protect the golden signboard? In the protection of intangible assets and the protection of merchants' interests were still blank. Some things in later generations should not attract people too early. A big tree attracts wind. Shen Wansan's tragedy has become a mirror for all Ming Dynasty merchants.

According to Li Weizheng's estimate, they had to make 10,000 Gu Ji pastries within ten days. Of course, his 500 guan cost was far from enough. Li Weizheng secretly gave his uncle two thousand guan to keep his cousin from his cousin. In the end, even he and Guo Qianqian joined the nervous cake making together.

Eight days later, more than 10,000 pastries made by the Gu family were piled up like mountains. On the bed, on the table, in the shop, and in the dormitory, there were elegantly designed paper bags everywhere. The temporary hired men were divided into three shifts, holding sticks in their hands to prevent mice from stealing food and destroying them.

At this time, Li Weizheng had only fifty coins left, and they had no way out. They either succeeded or failed completely.

On the afternoon of the ninth day, Li Wei happened to find a free time. He had just lying down on the bamboo chair, but Gu Ying rushed over like a whirlwind, "Hey! Didn't you say that business can be booming? Why is there no movement yet?"

Although she had said in advance that she was a part-time member and shared the losses, Gu Ying could not hold back her anger when she looked at the whole house of cakes and the neighbors' discussions. She began to regret it and should not believe her cousin who failed to take the county exam five times.

"Are you asking me?" Li Wei asked lazily without opening his eyes.

"Of course I'm asking you, you said, what should we do if no one comes to buy it?" Gu Ying asked him with her lip tightly. Her eyes were full of worry, but this was the first time Li Weizheng saw it in nearly ten days.

Li Weizheng opened his eyes slightly and glanced at her, and said with a faint smile: "Let's make a bet! If I lose, I don't want all the part. Even if I've lost all the money I invested, what if I've lost it, what if I've lost it?"

"It's okay!" Gu Ying had no choice but to turn around and leave, but she heard Li Weizheng ask slowly, "But, so what if I win?"

'You won!' Gu Ying looked back at him, feeling confused, "What do you want?"

Li Wei was sitting up, stretched out a palm and smiled, "If I win, you are not allowed to call me hello in the future. Is it OK to call me cousin?"

Gu Ying's face suddenly turned red. At this moment, the smart and tough businesswoman disappeared. There was only a shy and shy girl in front of Li Weizheng's eyes. However, Gu Ying's shyness only existed for a moment, and her face returned to her usual coldness, "Let's talk about it when you succeed!"

She turned around and wanted to leave the room. At this moment, Gu Ying's younger brother Gu Jun hurried in. He was so tired that he was out of breath and said, "Cousin, here you are here! The Prince of the Crown Prince you asked me for has arrived in Suzhou, right at the Fengqiao Wharf."

Li Weizheng was overjoyed and sat up. The opportunity he had been waiting for finally came. But Gu Ying was stunned. She seemed to understand something, but she felt incredible.

"Cousin, please tell Qian'er and say I'll go out." Li Wei was just saying that, and then hurried away with a bag of cakes. Gu Ying looked at his back, his eyes full of doubt.

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At Hanshan Temple, Li Wei was walking into the abbot's room with the guard leader Yu Ping. As soon as he entered the door, he heard Zhu Biao laugh and said, "Li Wei is traveling to Jiangnan with beauty, do you feel comfortable?"

Zhu Biao walked out of the dark light and hadn't seen him for nearly half a month. His complexion was a little rosy and in good spirits. It was obvious that he was in a good mood for patrol. Li Wei was quickly approaching and bowing, "See Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"How is it? Have you seen your uncle?" Zhu Biao smiled, shaking the folding fan.

"See." Li Wei was taking out the cake and put it on the table and laughing: "This is the cake from my uncle's shop. Your Highness might as well try it. I believe Your Highness must have never eaten it."

"Oh!" Li Biao saw that the cake in front of him was crystal clear and clear, white, delicate and soft, and he felt a little appetite. After the guard behind him tried the poison, he picked up a piece, tasted it, and immediately praised it: "It tastes delicious and sweet, it is indeed a finer."

Li Weizheng sighed and said, "Although my uncle is well-made, the store is about to go bankrupt."

Zhu Biao was stunned, "Why is this?"

"The story has to start with the opening of Fengyang in Suzhou and Zhejiang." Li Weizheng briefly said the experience of his grandfather and uncle's family, and finally said regretfully: "Originally, Gu Ji Pastry Shop is a well-known brand, but the luck is not good, and it finally reaches an unsustainable point, which is a pity!"

Zhu Biao also sighed slightly: "The father was really too impatient for Suzhe to fill Fengyang. Although his original intention was to weaken the local tyrants, his approach was a little simpler and rough, which hurt many people. It is really regrettable."

Seeing that the time was right, Li Wei immediately bowed and begged, "In order to save my uncle's shop, I would like to ask Your Highness to do me a favor."

Zhu Biao smiled, nodded happily and agreed, "Tell me! How can I help you?"

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Zhu Biao's purpose of this trip was to inspect the commercial development in Suzhou and Hangzhou. In Zhu Yuanzhang's words, it was planned to establish business registration for merchants and plug the current loopholes in business tax evasion in private households. Therefore, inspecting the commercial conditions of developed cities in Jiangsu and Zhejiang such as Suzhou was the top priority for him. According to the plan, he would stay in Suzhou for seven days, listen to official reports, inspect the cabbage transportation, inspect shops, inspect workshops, etc. The plan for the next day to come to Suzhou was to inspect shops. The place arranged by the Suzhou prefect was in the Shantang area, but Zhu Biao changed his mind temporarily and pointed out that he would inspect the shops in Changmen, and at the same time, the prefect was not allowed to expel the people in advance.

The next morning, Gu Ji Pastry Shop reopened. Apart from the sample placed on the counter, there was no plate of cakes in the store, but it was filled with thousands of paper bags. The lights were decorated outside the store, and it was completely renovated. A big sign was hung high in the air, with two huge black words on white background: "Gu Ji".

The Gu family, the men, women, young and old, went on a fight together, and several friends who invited help were lined up at the door. This attitude scared several old customers who were preparing to buy pastries so scared that they didn't dare to enter the house. Occasionally, a curious customer came in and asked about the price, and they all shook their heads and walked away. For an entire hour, no cake was sold in the store. Many neighbors and colleagues all cast sympathetic eyes on them.

The shopkeeper Gu Li didn't care about these eyes anymore. Today he wore a new black satin straight piece, a 10,000-word scarf, and his whole body was cleaned. He held the few words Li Weizheng wrote to him in both hands and recited them over and over again. He had been reciting these words since last night, but when he was nervous, he forgot it completely.

"Don't be nervous, uncle, the prince is kind and will never make things difficult for you. Maybe you don't need to speak at all." Li Wei smiled and comforted him with a smile.

"I know, I've been willing to go out for the sake of Gu Ji Pastry."

Gu Ying next to her has been silent since the morning. She silently packed up the things in the store and looked at Li Weizheng from time to time, her eyes full of complicated expressions.

Suddenly, a commotion occurred on the street. The crowds on the street ran to both sides. "The prince is here." Someone shouted, and everyone in the shop rushed to the street, looking forward to the tiptoe to watch the style of His Royal Highness the Ming Dynasty.

At this time, a large group of guards and yamen runners appeared on the street. They carried swords and sticks and drove pedestrians to both sides. A passage was empty in the middle of the road. Soon, a large group of military and political officials from Suzhou Prefecture surrounded the crown prince Zhu Biao and appeared on the street. The crowds on both sides of the street immediately cheered, and the gathering of more and more people, and the cheers of tens of thousands of people resounded throughout the world. The crown prince was forgiving and kind, and the Suzhou people who had always disliked Zhu Yuanzhang loved him even more.

Prince Zhu Biao walked along the way, smiling and waved to the passers-by on both sides. The cheers in the crowd suddenly became even higher, like a tsunami of mountains and tsunamis. Zhu Biao's personal bodyguard was extremely nervous, and he guarded him firmly from front, back, left and right.

At this time, several guards came to Gu Ji Pastry Store under the guidance of the yamen runners. A guard nodded to Li Weizheng and asked Gu Li again: "Is the shopkeeper ready?"

"It's ready." Gu Li's voice was trembling with nervousness.

"Then let's do it!" The guard led Gu Li out of the store. He left the store with a plate of pastries, one step deep and one step shallow.

The streets were quiet, and Zhu Biao was talking to the people. His voice was not loud. The guard next to him retelled loudly: "I have longed for the Three Wushen Land. This time I saw with my own eyes that the people of the Ming Dynasty live and work in peace and prosperity, which is extremely delightful. I have heard that Gusu has many famous things, and he is known as the number one in Jiangnan. I have no idea. Today I came to Changmen to see them. I hope the people will forgive me if they disturb the people!'

The guard was full of energy and a sound, repeating the prince's words, echoing in everyone's ears. The streets were stolen and snarling. Suzhou had never heard of Gu Ji cakes. Where is this?

At this time, Zhu Biao had already arrived next to Gu Ji's pastry shop. A guard led the shopkeeper Gu forward. Gu Li knelt down and raised the tray in his hand high, saying tremblingly: "Gu Li, a wise man, please taste it."

A guard took a piece of mung bean cake and presented it to Zhu Biao in a jade plate. Zhu Biao tasted it symbolically, nodded and smiled, "It's indeed good, it's worthy of being the number one cake in Jiangnan."

He pointed to the cake and smiled at the Suzhou Prefecture officials who were accompanying him and said, "Everyone can try it! This is my favorite fine spot, which is difficult to eat in the capital."

All the officials handed a piece, and after tasting it, they all praised it: "Not bad! It's indeed the best cake in Jiangnan."

The prefect was even more ashamed. He was an official in Suzhou for three years, but he didn't know that the Crown Prince's favorite thing was under his nose, so he would have to take good care of this pastry shop in the future.

At this time, Zhu Biao looked at Li Weizheng with a squint eyes and blinked at him secretly, meaning: 'How is it? It's okay!'

Li Weizheng did a writing move and asked him to leave his calligraphy. Zhu Biao had no choice but to smile at the officials around him and said, "This time my father ordered me to inspect the trade of merchants in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In order to show my importance, I will make an exception and leave a piece of calligraphy to encourage me."

He glanced at Manager Gu, smiled faintly and said, "Let this character be left for you! Take me to your store."

A group of people surrounded the prince Zhu Biao and entered the Gu Ji cake shop. At this time, more and more people gathered in the area of ​​Changmen, with more than 100,000 people, three layers inside and three layers outside, dense heads ignorant at first glance, and everyone's eyes were on the huge "Gu Ji" sign. It turned out that the "No. 1 Cake in Jiangnan" that the prince said was here.

In the shop, several guards had already laid rice paper and grinded thick ink. Zhu Biao picked up the pen and glanced at Li Weizheng. Li Wei was begging for mercy on his face and begged him with his hands folded his hands. Zhu Biao smiled slightly, and then picked up the pen and wrote: "The No. 1 Cake in Jiangnan".

After writing the words, he said to Manager Gu seriously: "This is the first time I wrote an inscription for merchants. I hope you can help your neighbors, treat your widows well, and be a good citizen of my Ming Dynasty."

Manager Gu knelt down and said excitedly: "Caomin remembers the teachings of Your Highness."

Zhu Biao looked at Li Weizheng again, turned around and left. The prince Zhu Biao had just left the street of Changmen. The crowd in front of the Gu Ji cake shop suddenly felt like waves. There were thousands or tens of thousands of people coming in, shouting Jiangnan’s No. 1 cake, almost squeezing the small storefront of the Gu family. Ten thousand bags of cakes were snatched in less than half a day. From then on, Gu Su Gu Ji cakes, known as Jiangnan’s No. 1 cakes, became famous all over the world. Half a year later, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Gu Ji cakes to be royal tributes. Today, the Huang Tianyuan cakes in Suzhou are also inherited here.

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Chapter completed!