35: Chapter 34: Wu Lan’s Plan 35: Chapter 34: Wu Lan’s Plan The aunt’s yell echoed through the morning market, capturing the attention of many people there.
They thought to themselves, “Three dis apiece, what kind of item is so expensive?”
In this world, the one thing people never lack is curiosity.
They crowded around, eager to see what was going on.
The aunt pointed at Xu Niannian, “Young girl, doing business doesn’t an you can be so heartless.
How can you charge three dis for such a tiny cake?”
It was only because these pumpkin cakes were so delicious and the aunt wanted to buy so for her son, who was about to take the college entrance exam, that she was speaking with Xu Niannian in such a way.
If it were anyone else, they would’ve been scolded by now.
Isn’t this robbery?
The cakes were so small that about five or six of them would make a pound, and at three dis each, wouldn’t a pound cost one and a half or two yuan?
That’s the price of pork.
When the onlookers heard the aunt speak this way, they chid in, “Young girl, you really are selling them too expensive.
Could you give us a discount?
You can’t do business like this.”
Xu Niannian knew that many people would find the price unacceptable as soon as she announced it.
If these were ordinary pumpkin cakes, she definitely wouldn’t sell them for this much.
But these were different, made with water from Space Creek and crafted by her, an accomplished chef.
She also had other plans in mind and didn’t want to start by setting the price too low.
Therefore, Xu Niannian didn’t get angry and kindly explained, “Auntie, these Liuyue Su are made from high-quality glutinous rice flour, which isn’t cheap.
Besides, you’ve tasted them yourself and know how delicious they are.
To produce such a tasty treat definitely requires a lot of steps; I spent an entire day making these.”
“Well…” The aunt hesitated; although she was brash and liked a bargain, she wasn’t unreasonable.
Given what Xu Niannian had explained, it seed the price wasn’t too outrageous.
Moreover, with the girl’s friendly deanor, the aunt didn’t feel right continuing her complaint.
But to simply hand over the money was hard for her; it was so expensive, and not even pork— it felt like she was being cut to the quick.
Xu Zhiqiang had stayed silent the whole ti.
When he heard Xu Niannian say they were three dis each, he was shocked.
So expensive—would anyone be willing to buy them?
Then, hearing her assert without a blush or breathless word that she had worked a whole day on them, Xu Zhiqiang’s head began to spin.
Had he rembered wrong, or had she actually spent just over an hour instead of the entire day?
As the aunt wavered, Xu Niannian wasn’t in a hurry to push; good products aren’t afraid of commanding high prices.
If sothing is genuinely good, there will always be more people willing to spend money on it.
The salaries in the county differ from those in the town.
In the town, so small factories pay an ordinary worker about fifteen yuan a month.
But it’s different in the county, with many textile mills and various factories where the monthly wages for ordinary workers are around thirty yuan.
Three dis for one, five to six per pound, one and a half or two yuan for a pound is indeed a bit expensive, but it’s not unaffordable.
Taking advantage of the aunt’s hesitation, Xu Niannian quickly gave out samples of the cake to the onlookers.
Those who ca were just there to see the spectacle, with no intention to buy upon hearing the price.
However, no one turns away free stuff, even if it’s only the size of a fingernail cap.
Yet as soon as they tasted it, their expressions imdiately changed.
The first young man to taste it exclaid excitedly, “This is so delicious, young girl, give two.”
“Eh, sure,” Xu Niannian replied as she took out two pumpkin cakes and bagged them in a paper bag.
She had folded the bags herself from clean exercise books she hadn’t finished in school.
With one buyer, naturally, there ca a second.
While the product was indeed pricey, it was just that tasty, so others paid up without fuss.
Surprisingly, the second buyer was the aunt, who decided to buy six despite the pained expression on her face.
Xu Niannian imdiately gave her an extra one on the house.
The aunt had just been showing a look of distress, but upon seeing Xu Niannian give her an extra, her face instantly blossod with joy.
She received it with a grin, thinking to herself, “This girl really knows how to attract business—a whole three cents apiece.”
Having earned three cents for free, the auntie couldn’t stop smiling happily.
The snacks were so delicious that, except for those who truly couldn’t afford to spend the money, most tried and then bought one or two.
Buying more might be painful, but one or two could still be afforded.
People love a spectacle, and seeing a crowd gathering around Xu Niannian, they joined in for the excitent.
Xu Niannian, as usual, offered samples first.
Xu Zhiqiang, seeing how good the business was, couldn’t help but be surprised.
These city folk really are willing to spend the money.
Three cents could buy quite a bit.
And yet they were willing to buy such a small cake that couldn’t even fill the stomach.
With many people coming, though most only bought one or two, sales went quickly.
Before long, there were only seven or eight pieces left in Xu Niannian’s basket.
Xu Niannian was so delighted she couldn’t stop beaming.
Suddenly, she felt extrely curious about the recipes in the space.
She really wanted to know what other recipes were available.
With just her own cooking thods, the snacks would still be tasty but definitely wouldn’t have such an alluring effect.
She had to admit that with the addition of Space Creek Water, the flavor was genuinely delicious and hard to forget.
Even soone who had tasted all sorts of gourt food like her couldn’t resist the temptation, let alone people from this era who hadn’t had much opportunity to try such delicacies.
Most people were just looking to appease their hunger; their cooking skills were average, and only in the county would people be willing to spend money on these precious pastries.
In a town like this one, they would surely not sell.
Xu Zhiqiang finally understood why Xu Niannian allowed people to taste for free.
If sothing was so expensive, people who had never tried it would certainly think twice before purchasing.
It was her capitalizing on the psyche of those who couldn’t refuse a free taste that lured in the custors.
But it was also because her snacks were truly delicious.
Although Xu Zhiqiang found them very tasty, he hadn’t expected that she could sell them for such a high price.
He had assud it was because he hadn’t eaten many good things before and so he felt that way.
It turned out others felt the sa.
After a wave of custors left, Xu Niannian counted and there were still eight cakes in the basket.
Wu Lan was happy today; her son was finally willing to go on a blind date, and he had even drunk the enhanced water she had prepared before leaving.
When he and Xinyu go on their date…
Ah, she couldn’t continue thinking about it, she was going to be a grandmother very soon.
With joy, she carried a small basket and strolled to the morning market, planning to buy an old hen to stew for her future daughter-in-law to nourish her body.
She just so happened to see a curious-looking woman at the corner of the street, her head wrapped up tightly.
Driven by curiosity, Wu Lan approached.
As soon as she got near, she was greeted by an enticing sweet sll.
“Girl, what are you selling?” she couldn’t help but ask.
She sniffed.
Wow, what a fragrant aroma.
Seeing a new custor, Xu Niannian greeted her enthusiastically, “This is called Liuyue Su, auntie, would you like to try it?”
Xu Niannian originally intended to call her “matron,” but upon noticing that, though the woman was older, she had a graceful charm and elegant deanor, she quickly corrected herself.
Wu Lan, hearing Xu Niannian’s soft, tempting voice, couldn’t help but take another look at her.
That look allowed her to catch Xu Niannian’s smiling eyes.
Wu Lan’s heart quivered, thinking, “What beautiful eyes.”
She wondered what the face under the cloth looked like, having never seen such attractive eyes before.
“Auntie, would you like to try it?” Seeing the woman staring blatantly at her, Xu Niannian reminded her, sowhat embarrassed.
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