It was only at this point that Pan Ping’an finally voiced his true purpose for visiting today.
Who was he? He was a bona fide businessman! Any trader who sees a profitable business would rush towards it like ants to honey, wouldn’t they?
Although ordinary folks may not be connoisseurs of fine food, they can generally discern what’s delicious. Living in the Provincial City with his family and not lacking food or clothing, Pan Ping’an would occasionally buy so pastries and candied fruits for his children, and sotis he’d taste them too. On his return to the Pan Family in Fire Knife Village, no sooner had he settled in than his grandfather proudly presented the Orange Cake and Crispy Yellow Turnip made by Hua Xiaomai. After everyone in the family had praised the taste, and upon learning that the maker was none other than the sister of their next-door neighbor Hua Erniang, Pan Ping’an quickly recognized the business opportunity.
He didn’t dare claim that the candied fruits and pastries made by Hua Xiaomai were unique in the world, but the fact that they were better than what he regularly bought for his children in the Provincial City was undeniable. After striving for so many years without making a significant profit, the opportunity before him might be the one he’d been waiting for all these years. If he didn’t seize it firmly, even the heavens might not agree!
"Candied fruits and pastries, these types of things, are always popular in the Provincial City. As long as they are well-made, there will be no lack of buyers," he said with a hearty laugh to Hua Xiaomai, who was standing beside him, as well as to Hua Erniang and Jing Taihe. "You haven’t seen it, but in the city, pastry shops are opening one after another. Not to ntion the children, but even young ladies and wives, as long as they have a little spare change, all love to crowd inside! These delicious treats, sweet in the mouth, also bring joy to the heart!"
After thinking for a mont, he added another line: "Who doesn’t wish to earn a few more silver coins? The candied fruits and pastries made by the younger sister of the Hua Family are both pleasing to the eye and tasteful. Such fine skills shouldn’t be wasted solely on family consumption—it’s truly a pity!"
Hua Erniang and Jing Taihe did not expect him to suddenly co out with such words. Their heads spun a little, and they found themselves at a loss for words. Hua Xiaomai, standing behind her second sister, however, was rapidly doing the math in her head.
Truth be told, she wasn’t greatly interested in making candied fruits and pastries; she had only learned the craft because the elderly in her family enjoyed them, and she actually preferred standing by the roaring fire, transforming seemingly unremarkable ingredients into dishes that were fragrantly tantalizing and mouthwatering.
But...
"Uncle Ping’an, you are the expert when it cos to business, while I know almost nothing. In your opinion, would anyone buy the candied fruits and pastries I make?" She smiled and tentatively said to Pan Ping’an.
Liking to do sothing was one issue, but whether it could earn real gold and silver was another matter altogether. No matter what she wanted to do in the future, she would need so capital, wouldn’t she?
From Hua Xiaomai’s questions, Pan Ping’an heard a hint of hope. He slapped his thigh firmly and declared, "Hua Family’s younger sister, I am never one to speak idle words! We business folks abide by the motto ’no profit, no getting up early.’ If I didn’t genuinely believe it was profitable, why would I bother pitching this idea to you? What you make has appeal in both appearance and taste. Just display it neatly on a table and who wouldn’t give it a thumbs up? Would there be any fear of not finding buyers then?
"However, as you just ntioned, there are indeed many pastry shops in the Provincial City, and while the taste of your candied fruits and pastries is one thing, they surely lack any reputation whatsoever. How do you plan to..." Hua Xiaomai was still sowhat apprehensive, her words trailing off.
"Don’t worry, I’ve been pondering over this the last few days, and I’ve got it all figured out," Pan Ping’an assured with confidence. "Let’s not compete with those pastry shops for now; let’s avoid directly challenging them and take a different path. The big restaurants and hotels in the city all have their own pastry chefs, but dium and small-sized eateries might not have the spare money. Most of them prefer to buy ready-made candied fruits and pastries to offer to their dining custors. I plan to start with these kinds of establishnts, recomnding the food you make to them. Once we gradually build a reputation, we can then step by step move upwards. After all, haste won’t get us anywhere with hot tofu!"
While talking, he leaned in a little closer and whispered mysteriously, "I’ll tell you this, having mingled in the Provincial City for so long, I’ve got so connections with many of the food business owners. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t dare to propose this idea to you rashly!"
At this mont, Hua Erniang, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. "I think this matter... might not be quite appropriate? I..."
Hua Xiaomai, already sowhat tempted, heard her start to raise what seed like an objection and imdiately beca anxious, not even waiting to hear what she would say next. She gently tugged at her sleeve a couple of tis, pleading in a low voice, "Erjie..."
"I haven’t even finished speaking, what’s the rush!" Hua Erniang turned and glared at her, then sighed and said, "You think you can hide your little sches from ? I’m beginning to see that when it cos to food, you truly have so skill and you’re bold. To put it bluntly, aren’t you just doing this for and your brother-in-law so we can live a better life? But... you know what my cooking skills are like, and you’re also aware that your brother-in-law and I are absolutely no help with the delicate work of making candied fruits and pastries. With just you managing everything on your own, I worry in my heart..."
"I can help, I definitely can help!" Hua Xiaomai nodded vigorously, "When making candied fruits, all sorts of fruits are necessary, and you can help with washing and scrubbing tasks, can’t you? I love making food, I won’t find it tiring!"
Yet Hua Erniang was still sowhat hesitant, and turned her body to look at Jing Taihe. "Husband, what do you think?"
Jing Taihe, as always, wore a genial expression. He glanced at her, then at the expectant Hua Xiaomai and said with a broad smile, "Since Xiaoi is willing, there’s no harm in letting her try. We must also be more attentive day to day, and if we see Xiaoi is truly too tired or can’t cope with the work, we can discuss it with Uncle Ping’an..."
As he spoke, he smiled apologetically at Pan Ping’an.
"Yes, yes, yes, these matters can all be discussed in the future!" Seeing that the three mbers of the Hua Family were all interested, Pan Ping’an was overjoyed inside, but he maintained a serious exterior. "Hua Xiaomai, I might as well explain to you straight how the silver coins will be calculated. Listen well."
"With fresh fruits scarce in winter, I think for this first ti, you just focus on making the Orange Cake and Crispy Yellow Turnip. For every jin of Orange Cake, I’ll pay you eight copper coins. As for the Crispy Yellow Turnip, I understand it requires quite so ingredients, so I’ll pay fifteen copper coins per jin. After that, don’t worry yourself about whether it’s a loss or a profit! Once spring and sumr co and there are more fruits, we’ll set prices for the other candied fruits and pastries, one by one. What do you say?"
Hua Xiaomai chuckled to herself.
The talk was nice, but who wouldn’t understand his little sche? He had set a fixed price for his end, and once he took it to the Provincial City, no matter how high he priced it, she wouldn’t have a say. His calculations were indeed shrewd!
She glanced at Hua Erniang quietly without making a sound, seeing her elder sister subtly nod, she instantly understood that Pan Ping’an’s offered price was fairly generous. Pan Ping’an was essentially showing her a path to wealth; even if he intended to earn a bit more himself, it wasn’t too excessive, was it?
Upon hearing Pan Ping’an say that if the business was successful, he would return to Fire Knife Village every month, Pan Taigong imdiately felt spirited and got excited, eagerly looking at Hua Xiaomai and pleaded softly, "Xiaoi, agree to it, please just agree to it..."
Hua Xiaomai looked at him with a smile, and finally nodded at Pan Ping’an. "Uncle, you have been so thoughtful, what worries could I have? Then I’ll boldly go into this business with you. However, I do have one condition."
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