Chapter 11 Malicious Competition for Positioning

As dawn broke, many early risers were already busy at the dock, and many vendors had already set up their stalls.

The three Lin siblings went to the dock early this morning, but before they even reached their usual stall location, they saw Aunt Li arguing with a middle-aged man.

"What are you up to? The young lady from the Lin family sells her pancakes well, so you come and take over this spot, selling the same pancakes." Aunt Li put her hands on her hips, pointed her finger at the middle-aged man's nose, and was so angry that her face turned red.

The middle-aged man, however, was nonchalant, curling his lip and saying, "This dock isn't yours to own. What rule says I can't set up a stall here? First come, first served! Besides, it's my skill to make the same pancakes, and it's none of your business to meddle."

At this moment, Grandpa Wang, who was selling steamed buns nearby, said, "Sun Dafu, you're really being unfair. Didn't your family already occupy a good spot in front of the dock? You're just trying to steal that spot because you see that the young lady's pancakes are selling well. What kind of behavior is that!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Dafu's eyes widened and his neck stiffened. "Old Wang, stop meddling. Where I set up my stall is my business. What does it have to do with you? Are you in cahoots with the Lin family to try and drive me away?"

Grandpa Wang was so angry that he glared at everyone. "How can you be so unreasonable! Your family has already taken the best spot in front of the dock, so why are you taking our spot behind us? You're doing business in both the front and back, you're so greedy! Everyone here at the dock has always followed the rules. If you break the rules like this, who will be able to do business in peace?"

As soon as Lin Yao put her things down, Aunt Li grabbed her hand and said, "Look at this! Look at this! These three siblings are all so weak, the youngest is the smallest. Sun Dafu, how can you be so mean to them?"

"What does this have to do with me? Being late is being late!" Sun Dafu didn't care at all about what Aunt Li said.

Lin Yao gently patted Aunt Li's back to calm her down, "Auntie, please don't get angry, or you'll hurt yourself."

Then, she turned around with a smile on her face. As the saying goes, "A smiling face is not a sign of a true friend." She said, "Brother Sun, although this dock is not privately owned by anyone, everyone has always tacitly agreed to each other's stalls and help each other make a living. We are indeed late today. After all, there are only the three of us siblings left at home. Without any elders to take care of us, we have to do everything ourselves, which is why we were delayed."

As she spoke, Lin Yao pretended to wipe the corner of her eye, "Today, I'll give this seat to Brother Sun."

The surrounding vendors, who were watching the spectacle, were also whispering among themselves.

"That Sun Dafu is really unfair. Lin Xiaoniangzi's family has had such a hard life."

"Exactly, they're occupying someone else's spot and acting so self-righteous."

Sun Dafu looked a little embarrassed, but he still stubbornly refused to leave, saying, "You're smart to know what's good for you."

Aunt Li hurriedly pulled Lin Yao aside, "Young lady Lin, this man is deliberately trying to steal your business, why did you give him up?"

“Auntie, although what Sun Dafu did was unethical, it wasn’t entirely wrong. The docks are all about first come, first served. I was just moving to the side. For us food vendors, taste is the most important thing. My business will continue as usual,” Lin Yao said.

Wang Shan listened from the side, nodding repeatedly, "Well said! Lin Xiaoniangzi's pancakes and braised pork offal taste top-notch. Even if you were in a different place, everyone would still recognize your skills!"

Lin Yao smiled and said, "Thank you very much, sir, for speaking up for my brother and me today."

Grandpa Wang sells steamed buns and bread on the other side of the dock. We don't usually talk much, but yesterday when he sold pig offal, I let him try some. I didn't expect him to be willing to speak up for us today.

The three Lin siblings moved their belongings to a new location.

Although the new location was a bit out of the way, it had the advantage of being more spacious. They worked quickly and soon rearranged the stall.

Lin Yao placed the tempting pancakes in a prominent position. In the large pot next to her, braised pork offal emitted a rich aroma, and the perilla tea in the bamboo tubes next to her was also neatly arranged, with a fresh tea fragrance wafting out.

Lin Cheng was in charge of starting the fire, and soon the griddle for the pancake stall was hot. Lin Yao skillfully scooped up a spoonful of batter and spread it evenly on the griddle; the batter quickly solidified upon contact with the heat.

As soon as the aroma wafted out, regular customers came looking for it.

"Young lady, why did you change seats today?" a regular boatman asked.

While making the pancakes, Lin Yao smiled and replied, "I'm a little late today and didn't get a good spot. What would you like to eat, sir? We also have some freshly made perilla drink today. It's refreshing and helps cut through the grease, perfect for this hot summer day."

"Give me an egg pancake, and half a pound of braised pork offal. What's this perilla drink?" the boatman asked.

Lin Yao spread the batter on the pan with smooth, effortless movements. "Grandpa, we have two kinds of perilla drinks. Perilla and hawthorn tea is made by boiling fresh perilla and hawthorn together. It's sweet and sour, and refreshing. Perilla and chrysanthemum tea is made by steeping perilla and chrysanthemum together. It has a sweet and refreshing taste and helps to clear heat and reduce internal fire!"

The boatman immediately became interested. "Sounds good. How much?"

“If you use our bamboo tube to serve this drink, it’s two coins a cup, and you can take it and drink it as you walk. If you bring your own water bag, it’s only one coin a cup,” Lin Yao replied.

"One coin a cup, this drink is really expensive." The boatman hesitated.

"Grandpa, my drink is made with fresh ingredients picked from the mountain yesterday, and I've even added sugar," Lin Yao said.

Sugar was expensive in ancient times, so when the boatman heard that there was sugar, he didn't hesitate any longer. "Okay, give me a cup of perilla and chrysanthemum tea. I brought my own water pouch." With that, he deftly untied the water pouch that had been used for many years and was worn smooth by the rub, and handed it to Lin Yao.

Lin Yao took the water pouch, tilted the bamboo tube slightly to the side, and the clear, pale yellow tea slowly flowed into it. The delicate fragrance of chrysanthemums and the unique aroma of perilla intertwined, filling the air. Lin Cheng, standing nearby, also packed up the prepared pancakes and braised pork offal and handed them over.

Customers gradually arrived at the stall, and Lin Yao enthusiastically introduced the new drinks she had made that day.

Working at the docks was hard work, so the workers would bring their own cold water. Few were willing to spend a single penny just to buy a drink. After all, for these manual laborers, no matter how good a drink was, it was just something that would be gone in a pee. It was much more worthwhile to spend a couple of extra coins to buy a pancake.

However, the dockworkers' wages were thirty coins a day, which was not low in the village. Some of the unmarried long-term workers, who were not hungry, would buy a drink to try when they bought cakes.

Although business was a bit slower than a few days ago, it was still better than she had expected. While she was efficiently serving customers, she kept an eye on what was happening at Sun Dafu's place.

At first, some people would go to Sun Dafu's stall to buy pancakes. Some of the dockworkers had never eaten Lin Yao's pancakes before, but they had heard that Lin's egg pancakes were delicious. After inquiring about the location, they wanted to come and try them. Sun Dafu earned some copper coins in one morning.

But most of the long-term laborers who worked at the docks every day remembered Sun Dafu.

Sun Dafu and his wife used to set up a stall selling pancakes in the best spot in front of the dock. Their pancakes were bland, dry, and hard, but they still sold them for two coins each. When the workers noticed something was wrong, they went to ask Aunt Li, who ran the porridge stall next door.

Aunt Li, who was standing nearby, said as soon as a farmhand asked, "The young lady who sold egg pancakes here yesterday was chased to the side."

Hearing what Aunt Li said, many workers who had bought egg pancakes in a daze realized they had made a mistake.

Sun Dafu gritted his teeth in anger and shouted even louder, "Two coins! Two coins for a chive and egg pancake, cheap and large portion!"

Lin Yao withdrew her gaze and continued cutting the braised pork offal in her hands. Several young dockworkers were standing in front of the stall; they were the same workers who had come to buy the braised pork offal after they closed their stall yesterday.

"We've been looking for you all day, young lady. We thought you weren't coming to set up your stall anymore," the young worker in the lead said with a smile, his eyes fixed on the thinly sliced ​​braised pork offal in Lin Yao's hands, swallowing hard.

Lin Yao looked up at the sound, a smile spreading across her face: "I promised to save some braised pork offal for you gentlemen yesterday, how could I not come? But unfortunately, we've changed seats today. You've come at the perfect time, the braised pork offal is especially fresh today, would you like some more?"

Another worker nodded eagerly: "Yes, yes, yes! We've been craving your braised dishes all night, and we're so glad we got to try them today."

Lin Cheng, who was standing to the side, quickly weighed the braised pork offal that Lin Yao had cut, wrapped it in clean oil paper, and handed it to them, saying, "Thank you for your patronage, brothers."

Several dockworkers took the braised pig offal they had been longing for, found a shady spot to sit down, took out the steamed buns they had brought from home from their pockets, cut them open with the small knife they carried, and sandwiched the braised pig offal in the middle.

One of the young workers couldn't wait and took a big bite. The braising sauce dripped down his chin, but he didn't bother to wipe it away. "This young lady's braised food and steamed buns are a perfect match."

Another, slightly older worker chuckled and joked, "You little rascal, all you know is how to eat. Aren't you afraid of choking on such a big bite?" As he spoke, he took a bite himself, a look of enjoyment on his face. "But I must say, the taste is truly unbeatable."

Seeing the farmhands eating with gusto, Lin Yao's eyes lit up. How could she have forgotten about steamed buns, something that could encompass everything?

Braised pork offal has a strong flavor, and if you eat it wrapped in your own egg pancake, the flavor will be too complicated. However, if you eat it with steamed buns or flatbread, it will not overpower the aroma of the braised pork offal and will even enhance the flavor and cut through the greasiness.

Steamed buns and bread are not difficult to make, and having more food options means more income.

However, Lin Yao thought again that the old man Wang who spoke up for them today was a steamed bun and bread seller. If she did this, she would be stealing his business and repaying kindness with enmity.

On the other side, Sun Dafu was still shouting energetically: "Two coins, only two coins for a chive and egg pancake!" But after shouting for a long time, only a few people came up to inquire, and most of them just asked a few questions and then shook their heads and left.

Sun Dafu looked at the bustling scene in front of Lin Yao's stall, then at his own deserted stall, his gaze turning cold.

A note from the author:

----------------------

100,000 words in reserve, 3,000 words updated daily, trustworthy, please add to your favorites~