Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Grand Opening Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Grand Opening Upon hearing Ye Xinyan’s enticing words, the person who had asked the question had not yet responded when two others directly took a seat and said, “If that’s the price, we’ll each have a bowl of rice tofu and a triangular baked bun.” Items that cost five wen, on the opening day of business, could be enjoyed for just three wen, nearly half the price—it would be foolish not to eat.
The person who had initially asked the question saw this and, not wanting to miss out on the deal that benefited others, quickly sat down too and said, “I’ll also have a triangular baked bun and a bowl of rice tofu.”
“Alrighty.” Ye Xinyan responded crisply with delight, and while scooping out the rice tofu and pouring the dipping sauce over it, she asked with a smile, “Would you like so chili? If you can handle the spice, it’s better to have so—it really enhances the flavor.”
“Enjoy your al, honored guests.” Seeing that business was picking up, Qi Younian each placed a triangular baked bun on the plates in front of the three custors.
Nanny Jin, who was making the corn pancakes, felt a bit dumbfounded. Everyone was buying triangular baked buns to take advantage of the discount; would there still be any demand for her corn spread cakes?
Ye Xinyan noticed Nanny Jin’s hesitation and said softly, “Nanny Jin, just keep making them. It’s because we have triangular baked buns. Once they’re sold out, and people want more, they’ll only be able to buy the corn pancakes.”
Still unconvinced, Nanny Jin worried about the large amount of corn batter she had prepared, enough for dozens of spread cakes.
The problem was, if they didn’t sell today, they wouldn’t taste as good tomorrow and naturally couldn’t be sold to spoil the market. However, the batter was already fernted and the alkaline mix was ready; it couldn’t just be left unused.
People began to try this novel food they’d never seen before, and their expressions showed genuine pleasure, which piqued the interest of others around them.
A middle-aged man leading a teenager asked soone eating rice tofu, “May I inquire, how does this food taste?”
That person happened to be the very first one who had asked questions. While enjoying his rice tofu with bright red chili oil, he nodded continuously, “Not bad at all, the taste is excellent—really savory and refreshing. The triangular baked bun is good too, not overly soft, but not tough either, just the right amount of chewiness. Hmm, there’s even flaky pastry within the bun, very fragrant.”
Where else could one find such an enthusiastic patron? Upon hearing this, Ye Xinyan almost wanted to let this person eat for free, as she was beside herself with satisfaction and delight.
The teenager led by the middle-aged man, already eager to try this new cuisine, imdiately tugged at his father upon hearing such praise and said, “Dad, let’s eat here. We always have buns, let’s try sothing different today.”
Ye Xinyan chid in with a smile, “Yes, uncle, our food really is good, and there’s a discount today. If you don’t eat it today, it won’t be the sa price tomorrow.”
The middle-aged man finally nodded, “Let’s have the sa as them, one portion each.”
The teenager tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “Dad, I sll that the corn pancakes also have a fragrant aroma. Let’s get one triangular baked bun and one corn pancake.”
As Ye Xinyan brought over two bowls of rice tofu, she smiled upon hearing the child’s words and said, “Indeed, our corn pancakes are also very delicious, especially when they’re freshly made—soft, fragrant, and very tasty.”
“Then we’ll have one of each,” the middle-aged man changed his order. Parents always have the sa sentint towards their children’s desires—it was a matter of one wen after all. As long as they were eating, might as well let the child be happy.
The grand opening discount filled the two tables with patrons in no ti at all.
As long as the food is authentic and tasty and the service is up to the mark, custors will naturally be satisfied. Moreover, since it was the opening day with significant discounts, as soon as a group of custors left, new ones would take their seats.
Those with bigger appetites found one triangular baked bun insufficient and would add another triangular baked bun or a corn pancake to their al. After tasting the corn pancakes and praising their flavor, so decided not to chase the agre saving of one wen and also ordered corn pancakes to accompany their al.
Nanny Jin busied herself by the charcoal stove and felt like she was on cloud nine. She had not expected their stall to attract so many custors on their first day of business. Even though they had offered significant discounts today and earned much less, it was inconsequential. As long as there were patrons who knew their food was delicious, they wouldn’t worry about attracting custors even when prices went back to normal.
They served breakfast early, and the custors ate quickly and moved on just as fast. By the ti Si Hour struck, a large pot of rice tofu was nearly empty. The triangular baked biscuits were long gone, with only a few corn pancakes left in the basket for food.
The three bustled about, wiping down tables and cleaning up bowls and chopsticks.
As Nanny Jin neatly arranged the bowls and plates into the basket, she said with a beaming smile, “Who would have thought our business would do so well? We won’t have to worry about our livelihood in the future, it’s all settled now.”
Qi Younian also laughed, “I didn’t expect Ye Zi, who was coddled from a young age, to be so bold and efficient when it ca to work. Look at her today, attracting custors and greeting guests so familiarly. This girl is clever; she even cos up with fresh ideas for the woodworking tasks at ho.”
The three estimated that they had earned several dozen wen that morning. But that was less than usual because of the discounts; under normal operation, selling several dozen bowls of rice tofu along with the main dish could earn them about one to two hundred wen.
By that count, they could make five to six taels of silver a month, which was enough to live comfortably and still have a little extra.
Not everyone could manage such a secure small business, and the three rode back to the village in a donkey cart, brimming with joy.
Though Clear Water Village was a large community with several hundred families, news spread quickly.
It was no secret that Qi Younian and the others had set up a stall in town for the first ti that day; most of the villagers knew about it.
The farrs who had lived in the countryside for generations would at most sell so vegetables and produce, carrying them on poles or in baskets to sell at the market for so pocket change. There were none who seriously went to town for long-term business.
The Second Branch of the Qi family, having returned less than a month ago, boldly went to town to do business and naturally beca public figures.
Now that the busy farming season was mostly over, there were many idle people in the village. As soon as Younian drove the donkey cart into the village, people along the road greeted him.
So even inquired directly, “Uncle Younian, you’ve started trading in town?”
With people striking up a conversation, Qi Younian couldn’t simply brush them off. He slowed the donkey cart and replied with modesty, “It’s not really business, just a small stall.”
A middle-aged man followed for a couple of steps and continued to ask, “You’re too modest, uncle. A stall is still business. How was the trade today?” He peered into the donkey cart and remarked, “So you’ve sold everything? That’s a good business.”
Ye Xinyan didn’t block the man’s view, instead, she ducked behind Nanny Jin.
Qi Younian replied, “Today was our first day, and we kept it small, but we sold out fairly quickly.” After finishing, he apologized to the man, “My nephew is busy, we need to be going.” He loosened the reins, and the donkey cart rumbled away toward the northwest of the village.
Watching the Qi family of three depart, the middle-aged man sat back down on the sun-ward earth slope by the road and chatted enviously with those around him, “That’s why they say, you’ve got to venture out to gain so guts. Look at the patriarch of the Second Branch of the Qi family, he didn’t seem to show much when he returned, almost looked a bit poor and destitute. But in just a month, they can do business in town.”
Another person joined in, “Didn’t they say it was a small business? Maybe it’s just enough to fill their bellies. They don’t have any land, maybe they gave up farming the rented fields because they couldn’t make it work, that’s why they started this, right?”
“Just the fact that they have the connections to do business in town shows they are experienced. If we were to set up a fixed stall, we’d probably be bullied by the town folks.”
The group talked animatedly, with differing opinions.
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