Chapter 37: Potatoes are popular, attracting the young master of Manxiang Garden

Chen Zhong was very efficient. In the afternoon, he brought the craftsmen to deliver the first batch of materials, which was three carts of blue bricks.

Such a large courtyard house requires a lot of bricks, and it would probably take two or three days just to transport them.

In addition to bricks, there are also sand, gravel, wood, and the unique adhesive of this era, glutinous rice mortar, etc.

As for the tiles, they can be delivered later.

Seeing everyone busy unloading bricks, Xiao Ying brought them a bucket of water, and everyone was very grateful.

"We can probably make three or four deliveries today. Don't worry, Madam Xiao, we'll be able to start work soon."

Chen Zhong drank the water in the bowl in one gulp and felt much cooler and his strength returned.

"Okay, then we'll provide lunch starting from the day you officially start work."

Xiao Ying thought that she would have to hire one or two people to cook. After all, she was not very good at it and she couldn't let Chen Xingyun get tired.

Chen Zhong’s construction team probably has more than a dozen people, and it is not easy to cook for so many people.

The food was nothing special. We had rice, flour, corn, and plenty of potatoes and cabbage at home.

There isn't much meat left. The musk deer we hunted last time only weighed a few dozen kilograms, and even less after removing the fur and internal organs.

It seems that I have to find time to go into the mountains. It would be great if I could hunt another wild boar.

"Thank you very much, Madam Xiao."

Chen Zhong smiled. In his opinion, it would be very good if Xiao Ying could provide some steamed buns, wild vegetable soup, or even steamed buns.

"By the way, I'd like to ask you to help me build a pavilion by the pond." Xiao Ying added, "Don't worry, the wages will be charged separately."

This is not written into the contract.

"no problem."

Chen Zhong agreed immediately. It didn't matter where you made money, it didn't matter where you went. Besides, Madam Xiao even provided lunch.

After taking a look at the pond, Chen Zhong was suddenly shocked.

"Madam Xiao, why are there so many bugs in your pond?"

Seeing a small group of crayfish crawling around with hard shells on their bodies, Chen Zhong felt goosebumps all over his body.

Xiao Ying saw the crayfish and laughed, "Those aren't bugs, they're a delicacy. You'll know later."

“Can this thing be delicious?”

Chen Zhong was skeptical, but he didn't dare to eat it anyway.

Xiao Ying thought to herself, “You’ll know once you try it.”

"By the way, Madam Xiao, your two potato snacks are very popular in Manxiang Garden, but they are too expensive."

Chen Zhong thought about this again. He tried it yesterday and the taste was really amazing.

"Oh? How much do they sell it for?"

Xiao Ying was a little curious. Chen Xinghai hadn't mentioned this matter in the past two days.

"A potato pancake costs ten cents, and a serving of silkworm potatoes costs fifteen cents. Even with these, people still come in droves to eat them."

Chen Zhong shook his head, showing a hint of envy.

It’s their exclusive business, and the food is really delicious.

Xiao Ying nodded slightly. She knew that Manxiangyuan would definitely increase its prices, but she didn't expect it to increase so much.

Especially the Tiancan potatoes, which are actually more expensive than potato pancakes.

Perhaps she still underestimated the value of novel crops.

Just as the two were discussing, an uninvited guest came to Manxiang Garden.

"Young Master, why are you here?"

Seeing a gorgeous white carriage parked outside the restaurant, Yu Qian happily came out to greet it in person with a smile on his face.

Then the curtain was lifted and a young man of about twenty-three or twenty-four got out of the carriage.

He was wearing a luxurious moon-white brocade robe, with fair skin and a handsome face, and was waving a folding fan in a showy manner.

With a smile on his lips, every move he made was like a gentle breeze on your face, he was truly graceful.

It was Zhou Tianci, the young master of Manxiang Garden.

As soon as he arrived, he attracted countless people's attention.

Although it was already afternoon and there were few pedestrians on the street, the neighbors still stretched their necks to watch, especially the young ladies and women.

From his demeanor, you can tell at a glance that he is a nobleman from the city.

"Let's see how your potato harvest is going."

Zhou Tianci, waving a folding fan, walked into Manxiang Garden at Yu Qian's respectful invitation.

Only when they reached the third-floor wing did Zhou Tianci put away his fan, and his expression became a little arrogant.

"Your potato harvest is amazing! As soon as the main store in the county town opened for sale yesterday, it became unexpectedly popular."

The prices in the county town are much higher than in the town. A piece of potato and egg pancake costs thirty cents, and a plate of Tiancan potatoes costs fifty cents, which is ten times the price.

Even so, there are countless buyers, and they buy five or ten copies at a time.

Yesterday alone, six or seven hundred copies were sold, which made them see the huge potential of this thing.

After a day of promotion, the number of people coming to buy today increased instead of decreased, but there were not enough potatoes, so Zhou Tianci came to Hongye Town in person.

When Yu Qian heard this, he was immediately delighted. He felt that he had truly accepted this credit.

"Congratulations, Young Master! Congratulations, Young Master!"

The day before yesterday afternoon, after Chen Xinghai delivered the first truckload of potatoes, he immediately had someone load them up and sent more than 200 kilograms to the county town, also bringing two recipes.

It was nightfall when they arrived at the county town. The Zhou family was initially unhappy with him disturbing them so late, but after seeing the two recipes, they immediately changed their attitude and asked the chef to give them a try.

After trying it, the whole Zhou family was excited, and they had a hunch that this thing would be a big hit.

For this, he was rewarded with twenty taels of silver.

The fact that the young master came in person today showed that these two snacks were selling really well, so he was naturally happy.

"The county is running out of potatoes. How many do you have?"

Zhou Tianci waved his hand and asked straight to the point.

"Back to the Young Master's House, the order signed with Madam Xiao was for 3,000 kilograms, and now I still have about 2,600 kilograms."

"Why is it only this little?"

Zhou Tianci frowned, obviously dissatisfied.

This thing is selling so well. We sold more than 100 kilograms yesterday. If it continues like this, won’t it be gone in ten days or half a month?

This is only sold in the main store and Manxiangyuan in Hongye Town. It is not available in the other towns.

Yu Qian couldn't help but break out in a sweat, and explained carefully: "This thing was found by that lady herself in the deep mountains, so the quantity may be limited."

"I've already told that woman's son that I want as much as they have, but there's been no response yet."

Zhou Tianci was silent, tapping the table lightly with his fan, and it was a while before he spoke again.

"Since she can find it, others should be able to find it too. Why aren't there other villagers selling it?"

"No."

Yu Qian shook his head. He also found it strange. At thirty cents per pound, there was no reason why the villagers would not be tempted.

The only explanation is that the others really didn't find it.

This time Zhou Tianci remained silent for even longer. Yu Qian didn't dare to disturb him and just stood quietly by the side.

"What's the lady's name? Where does she live? Can you come to her house in person?"

Yu Qian couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat and quickly replied, "That lady's surname is Xiao, Xiao Ying, and she lives in Chenjia Village. Although I haven't been there, Chen Tong, the accountant of our Manxiang Garden, is related to her. This lady Xiao is Chen Tong's second sister-in-law."

Zhou Tianci suddenly realized: "Go and call Chen Tong."