The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Min Xi felt speechless when he thought about it. Opening a store was just like doing criminal investigation.

I have seen some particularly funny business war tactics on the Internet before, such as posting bad reviews and unplugging network cables. The tactics were childish and crude, and I laughed for a long time at that time. I didn't expect that one day, he would also encounter a business war. The tactics he encountered should be considered advanced, such as bribery and stealing secret recipes.

Min Xi asked Yun Ji: "If we find out which family is responsible, how should we deal with it?"

Yun Ji thought for a moment and said, "We can only look for trouble with Faria, not our competitors."

Min Xi couldn't help but let out a long sigh: "That's true." After all, there was no such thing as patents these days, and if someone stole the secret recipe, you could only blame yourself for your bad luck.

The next day, Gail really went to work as a detective. After gathering information, he came back and told his two employers: "I saw him enter the kitchen of the Rainforest Restaurant."

This news was not unexpected. From the moment the window glass was smashed, the other party had already regarded the China Hotel as a competitor. However, the conspiracy at that time failed, and Min Xi and Yun Ji did not retaliate directly. Later, they opened a dim sum shop opposite the other party. The endless flow of customers at Luoyi would definitely make the other party jealous.

It just so happened that there were acquaintances of the other party in my store, which gave them a good opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

Yun Ji said, "Wait and see, I guess we'll see other stores selling Shuangpi milk soon."

Min Xi asked: "Why doesn't the Rainforest Restaurant sell double skin milk?"

"Isn't the target too obvious? I think they should sell the double skin milk somewhere else first, and then sell it here. This way we won't be able to hold them accountable." Yun Ji said.

As Yunji expected, a snack bar specializing in double skin milk appeared on Laurel Street soon. The name of the store was not changed at all and it was simply called "Good Taste". It only sold double skin milk, and the price of one serving was 20 rees.

Min Xi asked his employees to go to Good Taste on Laurel Street to buy some and taste it. It wasn't as delicious as theirs, but it had more sugar and tasted sweeter, which was more in line with the locals' taste.

This store quickly became popular in Lisbon. After all, it was almost half the price of the oriental-flavored double skin milk and was sweeter, so naturally more people went to buy it.

When eating at the restaurant, guests asked the owner if the restaurant was newly opened and why it was so much cheaper.

After Lord Mello learned about this, he came to clarify with Min Xi and Yun Ji: "That store has nothing to do with us. I can guarantee that my chef did not leak the secret recipe."

Min Xi smiled helplessly and said, "Of course I know. It has nothing to do with you. One of my employees leaked the secret recipe before."

Lord Mello frowned: "Is it that person who opened it?"

"No, he must have sold the secret recipe to someone else," said Min Xi.

"Did you ask them to keep it confidential? If you did, and he violated the agreement, you can hold him accountable," said Lord Mello.

"We agreed verbally, and everyone can testify. Can we still hold anyone accountable in this way?" Min Xi was not familiar with the laws of Fulanji.

Lord Mellor said, "Of course. In fact, you can also sue the store, saying that they stole your secret recipe and ask them to compensate you for your losses."

Min Xi asked in surprise: "Will this work? What if they insist that they figured it out on their own?"

Lord Melo said: "Then let them make double skin milk. If the method is basically the same as yours, then there is no escape."

“But will the Lisbon court accept such a case?” This is a rights protection lawsuit, which is quite difficult to win in modern society.

Lord Melo said, "Why not? As long as you have sufficient evidence. You brought this recipe from China, and you insist that he stole your secret recipe and make him pay for the loss. I won't say much, but at least he has to pay 100 reais for the secret recipe like me."

After listening to Lord Melo's words, Min Xi felt that what he said made sense. Lord Melo wanted the secret recipe and spent 100 reais to buy it, and he hadn't used it for commercial purposes yet. How could that person open a store in Lisbon and make a fortune without spending a penny, and even take away his business? It would be too easy for him if he didn't bleed a little!

Min Xi asked again: "Does Fulangji have any laws to protect secret recipes?"

Lord Melo said: "Not yet, but as long as the judicial department accepts this case, they will have corresponding punishment measures, and it can even promote the improvement of the law. I can even come forward to testify for you that I spent 100 reais to buy the secret recipe of Shuangpi milk, and I also promised not to tell anyone else."

Min Xi nodded: "You are right. I have already asked the staff not to open a store in Lisbon after learning it. They can all testify in court for me."

"And the clerk who left his job without saying goodbye, bring him back and interrogate him to find out if he was the one who leaked the information," said Lord Mello.

Min Xi was encouraged and decided to file this rights protection lawsuit.

Yun Ji was also very surprised. He never expected that the first person who asked them to sue would be Lord Mello. He thought he was just a playboy who only knew how to eat, drink and have fun. It seems that he is not completely useless after all.

Fernando heard Lord Melo's suggestion and said, "Simon's suggestion is very good. This is equivalent to theft, except that what is stolen is not specific property, but a secret recipe for making money. The nature is similar, or even worse. I support you in suing the other party."

Two lords supported them in taking the case to court. They had to file the case because they didn't have much to lose anyway. Regardless of whether they could win or not, at least the thief had to pay a price.

After the double skin milk tea shop on Laurel Street became popular, many restaurants in Lisbon also started selling double skin milk tea, including the Rainforest Restaurant. I don’t know whether they made it themselves or bought it from Laurel Street, but anyway, this smoke bomb was well placed.

The sales of double skin milk in Chinese restaurants and Oriental Flavor Shops have dropped by nearly half. Customers all know that the recipe must have been stolen from them. But no matter whether it is a stolen recipe or not, customers can buy cheaper double skin milk, so why not eat the cheaper one?

Fernando had a lot of free time. He went to eat at various restaurants one by one and collected the names of those that sold double skin milk and gave them to Min Xi. Since he was going to sue, he would sue all the restaurants, no matter whether they bought the milk or made it themselves. Since they did not have authorization from the Chinese restaurant, it was considered theft and they needed to bear the corresponding legal responsibility.

Within half a month, double skin milk had become a dessert that could be found everywhere in Lisbon.

“Although many stores sell it, there are actually only two flavors: yours and the good taste from Laurel Street. It can be seen that the source of double skin milk from other places is from good taste.” Fernando gave the answer after eating a lot of double skin milk.

Min Xi said: "I don't care whether they made it themselves or bought it, I will take them to court to claim compensation."

Yun Ji said, "But we still have to consider one thing. Once we sue them, will they turn the tables and lead the people to blame us for selling too expensively, thus affecting our reputation?"

Min Xi frowned, "Yes, this is a big problem. We also have to consider the issue of public opinion. They might say that we are selling at high prices after monopolizing the market, and in the end, we will be the ones who suffer the negative impact."

Fernando said: "It is indeed a problem and we need to find a way to solve it. You were the victims, but in the end you are the ones who suffer."

Fernando thought about it and said, "How about this? We can find some people to spread the news and say that those stores stole your secret recipe. Before we file a lawsuit, we can spread the news and seize the opportunity of public opinion."

Min Xi shook his head: "This method is not feasible. Even if we are right in this matter, when it comes to interests, people will eventually let their butts decide their heads. As long as someone with ulterior motives guides them, it will lead to a direction that is disadvantageous to us."

Yun Ji frowned: "What should I do then?"

Min Xi frowned and thought of a plan: "I have a plan!"

In February of this year, the judicial department of Lisbon City Hall received a special lawsuit: Min Xi and Yun Ji, the two owners of China Restaurant and Oriental Flavor, sued 2 stores including the "Good Taste" snack bar on Laurel Street and the Tropical Rainforest Restaurant at 87 Magallanes Street. The claim was that these 19 stores stole their double skin milk secret recipe without permission, which seriously affected their interests, and they demanded that each of these 19 stores compensate them for 19 reais.

This was the first commercial dispute in the history of Fulangji caused by a secret recipe. After several discussions, officials from the judicial department decided to accept the case.

On the day when these 19 stores received the court summons, Min Xi announced the production method of double skin milk on the bulletin board in front of the China Hotel, and noted: Citizens are welcome to take the secret recipe for their own use. Anyone using it for commercial purposes must pay the hotel a secret recipe fee of 100 reais, otherwise they will be in court!