Chapter 118 - 118: What Is This Shop For?

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The chives had been harvested once, and as the weather grew colder, entering December, the price had gone up from one hundred coins per gram to one hundred fifty. As the New Year approached, it was expected to become even more expensive.

People who came to buy vegetables kept complaining, and Shopkeeper Niu explained patiently.

“Scarcity drives up prices. Consider yourself lucky to get these at the current rate. By the end of this month, it’ll be one or two taels of silver per gram, and you’ll have to fight for them. If you don’t hurry, you won’t get to taste it during the New Year.”

Despite the complaints, those craving these vegetables were willing to pay any price.

Mainly, it was because they had money; without money, the desire to eat didn’t matter.

Qiao Mai rewarded the five maids managing the five acres of land with two taels of silver each.

This made the others work even more enthusiastically. It was almost the New Year, and they knew if they did their work well, the Mistress would reward them even more.

Though they were bound laborers, nobody would complain about having more money. If the Mistress decided to release them, they wouldn’t refuse either.

The Liu siblings behaved well here. Liu Ye did well in the embroidery workshop and helped out with various tasks. The women there were kind to her and taught her whenever she needed guidance.

In just over a month, she learned to stitch simple patterns and make handkerchiefs.

Liu Hai worked diligently at Jingtai Restaurant. Having worked in town before, he didn’t need much instruction and handled his tasks well.

Shopkeeper Tong was pleased with his performance and paid him two hundred coins per month, considering he was Madam Qiao’s relative.

What made him even happier was the four recipes he bought for two hundred taels. They were popular among customers, improving business significantly.

Liu Ye lived with Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu in Lucky Garden, although it was said she lived with Shopkeeper Lu.

She enjoyed excellent meals three times a day. She rarely left the house except when Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu took her to see the greenhouse vegetables and poultry.

She was now aware of how hardworking her cousin was and decided to learn some skills from Qiao Mai to make more money.

Having money was better than not having it.

In his free time, Mayor Qian often visited Qiao’s Small Eatery to enjoy good food.

Because here, he always got to eat good food.

For example, he loved the sour cabbage dumplings they served.

He frequently ordered his chef to buy some and bring them home to enjoy. The same went for pickled vegetables and spicy cabbage, which he often purchased and consumed with rice porridge.

Now, with the fresh produce from the greenhouse, he couldn’t resist coming to the snack shop frequently to taste the dishes.

He was lucky to catch the first batch of fresh vegetables and promptly paid for them. He grabbed half a basket and had the guards swiftly deliver them to his home.

Eating cucumbers, eggplants, and other fresh vegetables in the dead of winter was an exhilarating experience, like soaring in the sky!

The news of the new dishes at the Qiao’s Small Eatery in Tianshui Town spread like wildfire to the neighboring towns and counties.

To ensure they could enjoy fresh vegetables in the winter, the stewards of wealthy households received orders from their masters and hurriedly came to buy them in horse-drawn carriages.

Those who managed to purchase the vegetables left with joyful expressions, while those who couldn’t left their money as an advance order. However, there was a limit to how much they could order, as each household had restrictions.

Shopkeeper Niu grinned as he looked at the orders. “Our Mistress is absolutely right. These fresh vegetables have boosted the sales of all our other goods.

When these customers come, some purchase extra to please their masters.”

One of the attendants chimed in, “Indeed! These days, I’m making a lot of spiced eggs. They sell out every day. Starting tomorrow, I’ll make more.”

Another attendant added, “Fried snacks are selling out quickly too. We used to fry them every three days, but now it’s almost daily. I’ve noticed that if we don’t keep up, everyone will come to buy them by the end of the year, and we won’t be able to supply enough. We should stock up.”

The third attendant remarked, “This month has been bountiful.’

Shopkeeper Niu gave them a stern look. “Work hard. Our Mistress treats us well. Don’t keep talking about useless things all day.”

“Hehe.”

In any case, when the New Year came, everything would sell well. Those engaged in business were counting on making extra money for the New Year, ensuring a prosperous start to the year.

In mid-December, Qiao Mai wrapped Dong Zao in clothes and went to the

Capital for some “shopping.”

Since the New Year was approaching, she wanted to bring back some fruits to sell in her shop. She also planned to visit Xin’er’s shop.

In the city, she didn’t go directly to see Xin’er but wandered around the streets first.

The snack recipes she had given Xin’er were highly sought after in modern times, and it was the same here.

If a snack shop in the city offered these dishes, it would surely attract a crowd.

As expected, while wandering around, Qiao Mai saw a crowded shop with people outside.

She parked her horse cart nearby and asked a woman waiting in line, “What kind of shop is this? Why are there so many people here?” The woman replied warmly, “Are you not from this county?”

“No, I came for errands.

“This newly opened snack shop sells just one type of snack, but it’s incredibly delicious. Once you taste it, you’ll want more. I come here daily to have a bowl, whether it’s cold or hot.”

Qiao Mai realized this shop was undoubtedly the one she was looking for. Standing at the entrance and inhaling the aroma wafting from inside, she became certain.

Qiao Mai joined the queue and waited almost half an hour before entering the shop with the woman.

“Two large bowls of cold noodles, extra chili oil.”

“Sure, that’s twenty coins for one bowl, so it’s forty coins total. Who’s going to pay? We collect payment upfront here.”

The woman didn’t mind and readily paid for her share. Qiao Mai smiled and paid.

After the waiter left, the woman commented, “Twenty coins for one bowl is quite expensive.”

Qiao Mai responded, “It’s not too bad. They rent the shop, employ waiters, and use high-quality ingredients. Considering the oil they use, they probably don’t make much profit. Taste matters most.”

“True. Let me tell you, this shop belongs to the Feng family. I don’t know where they got the recipe from, but this business, though small, is thriving. There are always so many people here from morning till night. I calculated it for their family. They must sell over a thousand bowls a day.”

“So many?”

“Yes, one bowl costs twenty coins, and ten bowls are two hundred coins. Many wealthy families send people to buy, and they don’t even eat here. I heard they plan to raise the prices.”

“How do you know it’s the Feng family’s shop?”

“Madam Feng comes here frequently. Not only does she check on things, but she also occasionally eats a bowl herself. That means the food is clean; she wouldn’t eat it if it weren’t. Besides, didn’t you see the sign? It says, ‘Feng Family Snack Shop.”‘

As Qiao Mai listened, her face turned increasingly unpleasant. When she handed over the recipe to Shopkeeper Lu, she specifically told her it was for Xin’er and not the Feng family. Yet, in such a short time, it had become the Feng family’s business.

The cold noodles were served, and the woman couldn’t wait to start eating.

Qiao Mai stirred her bowl of cold noodles and dug in, taking one mouthful after another.

They had ordered cold noodles since the shop was warm, and cold noodles were more refreshing.

As Qiao Mai enjoyed the familiar taste, memories of Earth filled her mind, making her feel nostalgic.

Just then, laughter echoed from outside. When Qiao Mai glanced over, she saw Madam Feng and her maid had arrived.

As soon as they entered, the waiter led them to their seats and served them cold noodles..