Chapter 55: Meow Meow Pre-sale Meow Meow Cookies Rule Pingjiang Prefecture!

As the weather gets colder, the leaves of the old locust tree in the yard have completely fallen off, leaving behind bare branches.

"One, two, three, you guys are so fat."

When Wei Fuqiu was mixing rice bran, she caught one of the legs and rubbed it repeatedly. The snake was so frightened that it didn't eat much of the rice bran and retreated into its nest.

The loofah and edamame grew larger and larger, now escorting the two sisters to and from school. Wang Qiulan knitted them loose, thin bibs, which she tied around their necks. She wrote their names and the fact that they lived in Yunlaixiang, to prevent them from being mistaken for stray dogs.

One is black and the other is yellow, with furs of one being fluffy and the other being shiny and sleek, they became the two bullies in front of Tianqing Temple.

Naturally, the eldest, Naba, was currently huddled in a rattan chair, too lazy to even open his eyes. Wang Qiulan had turned over a small silk quilt for Wei Jinyun's afternoon naps, and when she wasn't using it, it became Yuanbao's territory. However, Yuanbao always had to extend his claws for Wei Jinyun to trim regularly to prevent the quilt from snagging.

The big rooster next door felt a little depressed after losing its rival. It didn't even have the strength to crow in the morning. It often tried to jump over the wall to see what its rival was doing.

Wei Jinyun ate a bowl of shredded radish soup noodles and picked some loofah from the vine to use as loofah pulp for washing dishes. When she opened the shop door, she was startled.

A large group of people gathered outside the shop.

"Who wouldn't like a bright and beautiful woman? She's so sweet and soft, my heart melts. I'm sure I'll win on my first try this time!"

"Draw the lucky star! The lucky star brings wealth. Please, our lucky star will pick up the money from outside and bring it home. Meow meow, you're so good."

"Where's Axue? You don't understand Axue's contrasts at all. The kind who appears serious and serious about catching thieves, but actually blushes when teased by her master... I'm in for a treat!"

"What are you talking about? Aren't generals the ones who have published the most picture albums? I'll draw twenty generals and put them on display."

"I like all six meows. As Shopkeeper Wei said, just hold the box, and there's also a hidden one. Haven't you seen it? The one hanging around Lord Lu's waist is a hidden one."

"Who dares to look?"

"I dare to look!"

"That's not the point at all. The point is that Meow Meow Cookies are delicious."

......

The six cats took only two weeks to become a hit in Pingjiang Prefecture. Yunlaixiang not only broadcasts a short story each day, but also provides a picture album for appreciation.

Even the large scroll displayed at the door of the shop had so many signatures left on it that no one knew when.

But, no matter how I sign, I won’t sign on Liu Miao’s face, otherwise I will be surrounded and accused.

"Please make way, please make way."

Gu Xiang, accompanied by Chao Jiu and Wan Wu, struggled to push through the crowd and squeeze to the front. "It's too early! We just started selling at the beginning of the month... Line up in an orderly manner!"

She placed the six scrolls outside the shop, and only then did Chaojiu and Wanwu straighten the meow meow paper-cuts on the osmanthus tree and hang a few new ones.

Now, under Wei Jinyun's guidance, they have mastered the pre-sale process of Meow Meow Cookies.

On the day of the pre-launch event, Wei Jinyun built a clay stove in front of the shop and baked Meow Meow cookies on the spot, filling the entire street with their aroma.

Gu Xiang is very strong and is responsible for the heavy work, such as hanging banners, setting up display stands, and cleaning the store entrance spotlessly.

Chaojiu and Wanwu were busy preparing samples for tasting, cutting the cookies into just the right size so that people could taste the flavor without feeling full in one bite.

Chang Siyan naturally moved a table outside the door and told meow stories.

Today is the official pre-sale day. As soon as the first day of the lunar calendar arrived, there was a long queue in the shop and it was bustling with people.

Once someone started, the others followed. Wei Jinyun had the waiters guide the queue, Chang Siyan entertained with a story, Chaojiuwanwu continued to offer tastings, Gu Xiang maintained order, and she herself sat at the counter, collecting deposits and writing contracts.

The contract was specially designed by Wei Jinyun. It simply stated the customer's name, deposit amount, quantity ordered, and time of delivery, and was stamped with Yunlaixiang's special seal. Although Chaojiuwanwu was illiterate, Wei Jinyun had taught them to recognize the word "Liu Miao" and the number, allowing them to verify the basic information.

The Meow Meow cookies at the moment are baked by several people in Wei Jinyun's shop together, and the sachets in Chenji Cloth Shop are also made by the embroiderers stitch by stitch. Although they are embroidered day and night in advance, no matter how fast they are, it is still manpower.

Therefore, Meow Meow Cookies is sold every three days, and is only open for two hours a day. It can only be purchased with a contract.

Once you open the oil-paper package containing the Meow Meow cookies, you'll find a small piece of floral paper inside. Inside, a few strokes depict Meow Meow's appearance and name, along with the seals of Yun Lai Xiang and Shen's Cloth Shop. Then, take the small piece of floral paper to Shen's Cloth Shop to exchange for a purse.

When people go to the cloth shop, they will naturally look at new clothes and cloth while waiting, which increases the customer flow of the cloth shop.

As soon as the pre-sale ended, Gu Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, holding his tea bowl. "Manager Wei, we sold 300 copies today. At this rate, we'll continue to sell hundreds of copies. Isn't it true that Yunlaixiang will be very prosperous in the future?"

Wei Jinyun shook his head and said, "My cooperation with Shen Ji is only for one month."

"Why, Manager Wei? Our Yunlaixiang has become famous in Pingjiang Prefecture besides Xu's. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot."

Chao Jiu, who was standing by, came forward, somewhat puzzled.

"The market is booming right now, so Meow Meow Cookies are naturally selling well."

Wei Jinyun said slowly, "We are, after all, a dim sum business. If we want to maintain a steady business, we can't always rely on Meow Meow Cookies. Blind box sachets and shaped cookies are just icing on the cake... After this, Meow Meow Cookies will be on the Yunlaixiang menu. I've also signed a contract with Shopkeeper Shen. Meow Meow Sachets will only be sold for one month and cannot be sold privately."

Nowadays, many people have a herd mentality. If Liu Miao’s daily products are sold for too long and become overcrowded, they will no longer be popular.

The long-term solution is to introduce it from time to time, cook it slowly over low heat, and master the mentality of waiting.

"Boss Wei, can I continue writing the sequel to Six Cats' Daily Life? I've accumulated quite a few new stories, and even added to the storytelling script."

Chang Siyan sat aside, drinking tea. Her tea was specially brewed for her by Wei Jinyun, a tea that was good for the throat. In the past, she would drink tea under the arch bridge, morning and night, and her tea was the cheapest tea foam.

She only let her give one lecture every day and also prepared tea of ​​different flavors for her.

Chang Siyan just wanted to grow more wool so that he could pluck it all from her.

She likes to tell stories in Yunlaixiang.

"Go on, Xiao Chang."

Wei Jinyun raised his eyes and smiled, "Your Six Cat Stories are a big hit at Yunlaixiang. When customers come to buy cookies, they always ask if you have any new stories. Even Tangtang's picture albums are overflowing."

She rubbed Chang Siyan's face and said, "Madam, please continue to produce. Don't stop... I'm sure you'll have a big profit on the Winter Solstice. I'll make a lot of money for you next year."

"No, don't rub it."

Chang Siyan choked on a mouthful of tea, his face flushed red, and he choked while replying, "You don't know what you're talking about again."

She always says strange things to compliment her.

"Manager Wei is right. We at Yunlaixiang make dim sum, and taste is everything. Many customers say that our Meow Meow cookies are not only pleasing to the eye, but also delicious."

Wan Wu nodded repeatedly.

She watched with her own eyes as Shopkeeper Wei's deft hands made snacks with different shapes of the catkins, and how he came up with such a good idea in such a short time to attract so many people to line up to buy them.

This snack called cookie is very fragrant, crispy and sweet, and filled with jam of different flavors. Colleges and book clubs all buy maple leaf cookies as snacks for students to taste.

It’s great to be a waiter at Yunlaixiang. It’s a blessing to eat snacks and leftovers every day.

The pre-sale of Meow Meow cookies also brought a lot of business to the shop’s dine-in service. By the time a few people sat down to drink tea, the seats were soon full.

If people eat cookies, they'll naturally try other snacks. The Red Lotus Youth Soup is well-known, and its signature dishes are still soft, delicious, and sweet.

Lü Lantang sat by the window, the tip of her brush gently sweeping across the rice paper. The raccoon cat in her painting came alive, its fur so fine it seemed palpable. Sunlight filtered through the carved wooden window, falling on her shoulders. Her concentration was unwavering.

She now goes to Yunlaixiang every day, and no matter it is sunny or rainy, Wei Jinyun will reserve a seat for her.

Wei Jinyun walked over with a plate of maple leaf cookies and gently placed it on the table. "Tangtang, take a break and eat two cookies to fill your stomach."

Only then did Lu Lantang look up, the tip of his brush still stained with light ink, and said with a smile, "Jinyun, look at my paintings, they've piled up like a small mountain, my hands are so sore."

“Isn’t this good?”

Wei Jinyun flipped through her sketches and said, "You were originally going to publish the sketches for 'Six Cats' Daily Life'."

These raccoons, whether drawn with simple strokes or carefully painted with every hair clearly visible, are all lively, cute and attractive.

There are really a lot of experts around her.

"Oh, this is really an accident. I was just drawing casually, but I didn't expect everyone to like my raccoon cat so much. The sketches displayed at Yunlaixiang are almost torn apart by customers. But don't I give 20% of the money for the sketch to Jinyun? After all, this is Yunlaixiang's raccoon cat."

Lu Lantang was idle all day long, and he loved painting, so he just wanted to help Wei Jinyun draw some raccoon dogs to promote his work.

I hadn't expected this young lady to be so adept at spreading the word. Not only did Yun Lai Xiang and Shen's Cloth Shop display her large scrolls in front of their shops, but children also began collecting the small floral notes she had casually sketched. "Six Cats' Daily Life" and her paintings became a huge hit...

A bookshop actually came to the door, wanting to publish a picture album for printing and sale.

Her grandmother was good at painting, and she was influenced by her since she was a child, but she only painted for fun every day.

The first time I made money with paintings was when I repaired Yun Laixiang's paintings. This young lady was really generous, selling a painting for six strings of cash. Although her brows were furrowed and her teeth were almost broken when she handed over the money.

The second time was because of this young lady.

She was busy all day making delicious desserts and coming up with all kinds of ideas. Seeing her was like seeing the warm autumn sun.

Not to mention Lu Lan, anyone who saw it would be happy.

"Then I'll remember this. Mr. Lu, please don't forget to give me your share of the money when the time comes. Don't let me, the man behind the scenes, work in vain."

Wei Jinyun stepped forward and gave Lu Lantang a shoulder massage. This was a technique she had learned from her grandfather, an old Chinese medicine practitioner, and it made Lu Lantang's eyes squint.

"I know, I know, you money-grubber."

Lu Lantang put down the brush, reached out and gently pushed her arm, then glanced at the faint shadow under her eyes, and softened his tone, "Honestly, you've been busy lately, aren't you tired? It's time to take a break and stop straining yourself so much."

"Not bad, not too tired. I'm waiting for my goodies to arrive."

Wei Jinyun smiled and replied, "I've been waiting for seven or eight days."

Lu Lantang simply stood up and waved to Gu Xiang, "Little Gu, push your shopkeeper into the rattan chair. If you don't take a rest, the guests will ask if Shopkeeper Wei is a thief at night."

Wei Jinyun was pushed along by her, but he didn't resist. "Okay, okay, as you say, Mr. Lu, I'll go and rest for half an hour, you can continue painting without worry."

When Lu Lantang first met her, she was pushing a small cart beneath a camphor tree, selling dim sum. In the sweltering summer heat, she fanned herself with a palm-leaf fan while diligently explaining her dim sum. She visited her grandfather daily, and though she saw him every day, she never approached him.

I feel a little embarrassed.

Aong was so angry that his teeth were glued to the snacks. He is such a good wingman.

What an amazing person.

Wei Jinyun curled up in the rattan chair for a while, then went to play chess with Zhou Gong. Wan Wu specially moved a screen to cover half of her body, which made Zhang Renbai so angry that he stuffed three cookies into his mouth.

Yuanbao snuggled into her arms again while she was asleep. However, he had recently eaten a lot of small loaches and had become fatter. This nest made her frown for a while.

The wind chimes at the door and the wind chimes next to the screen rotate together, and guests come in and out of Yunlaixiang, which is filled with sweet fragrance.

"How could someone dare to copy my painting? With his brushstrokes, he could have painted even a fraction of the beauty in my painting. My name, Tang Yin, would be written upside down. Doesn't he have the ability to draw? He has no hands or brains, but he insisted on copying my painting. It makes me so angry!"

Tang Yin rushed in from the door, his cheeks flushed with anger and his voice was a few degrees higher than usual.

Gu Xiang, who was serving Red Lotus Rejuvenating Soup, was startled by his behavior. He put down his work and walked forward, "Mr. Tang, what's wrong? Why are you so angry? Have some tea to calm down...and keep quiet. Our shopkeeper Wei is asleep."

There was no seat for Yunlaixiang, but fortunately Lu Lantang waved to him and asked him to sit over there.

"Well, it's been imitated. There's a soup and noodle shop that also tried to use the image of a raccoon to attract customers, but that picture..."

Zhu Zhishan spread his hands helplessly. "Anyone with a discerning eye can tell it's a depiction of Ah Xue from our brother Tang's new painting. Not only has Ah Xue been made much uglier, but even the wrinkles on her sleeves haven't changed at all."

"Don't be angry, don't be angry, have some tea first. Everyone knows your talent, the great talent Tang. The people in your paintings look as if they are walking off the paper. How can others learn this spirit? Even if they try to copy them, they will only produce empty shapes."

Lu Lantang smiled and poured tea for them both.

"But you did draw less. Everyone is waiting to see."

Tang Yin took the tea bowl and sighed.

He glanced at the counter and lowered his voice. "I want to paint, too, but I don't have the time. I have to go to the provincial school during the day. Last time, I was caught by your grandfather for secretly drawing a few strokes in class. He gave me a good beating with a stick. It hurts even now when I think about it. After school, I have to bury myself in books. I have the provincial examination next year, so I won't have any free time... You shameless little thief, you painted my Ah Xue!"

He was angry for a while, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He complained wildly in a low voice in the shop.

"Mr. Tang, please don't be angry..."

Gu Xiang served him a pot of lung-clearing tea. "Right now, not only are people copying your paintings, but other pastry shops have also started making dog-shaped pastries. However, customers say they are not as pleasing as our meow cookies. No one else can learn your skill."

She saw them every day on her way to and from work. Although they tasted good, they looked really weird. Some of the pastries were too crispy, and sometimes an ear or tail would fall off, which was very creepy.

The loofah and edamame turned over under my feet and groaned.

"You guys are likable too. Loofah and edamame are the likable ones."

Chao Jiu rubbed their heads and fed them two pieces of dried duck meat. "They are the most majestic dogs in front of Tianqing Temple."

At Yunlaixiang, the wages are high, the food is delicious, and you can "enter cats and play with dogs" all day long. Where else can you find such a good place?

"When Shopkeeper Wei launched the Red Lotus Rejuvenating Soup, several other shops followed suit. However, they didn't mix the ingredients well, and the cooking time wasn't perfect. They could only rely on price cuts and gimmicks to attract customers. In the end, wasn't it still the idle guys at the entrance of Yunlaixiang who were the most crowded?"

These days, Wan Wu has become more cheerful and can talk more with the guests.

She continued, "They're selling dog snacks right now, but they don't have any interesting stories or pretty picture albums to go with them, so they can't keep customers and they don't sell much."

Lu Lantang held up his chin and smiled, "It can't be helped. It's because your boss Wei and Chang Siyan have so many ideas popping out of their heads. Others are still trying to imitate them, but they've already been thinking about how to add new tricks. Naturally, they can't keep up."

"But there is one thing I disagree with."

Zhu Zhishan suddenly came over, winked at Tang Yin deliberately, and said silently, "You said you didn't have time to paint Liu Miao, but you must have painted several portraits of this Miss Shen."

Suddenly, half a face peeked out from behind the screen, a small hairpin slanting at her temples. Chen Chuxiang, wearing a green quilted skirt, stared at Tang Yin.

"Mr. Tang painted my painting?"

In her hand, she held an embroidery frame, with silver thread wound across the satin, forming a half-finished purse. She asked in a gentle voice, with a hint of a smile, "Would you please let me see it?"

Chen Chuxiang would come to Yunlaixiang every few days to learn embroidery from her master, and she could always hear Tang Yin eating snacks there. He always had a lot to say, whether it was eloquent speech, teasing his classmates, or sighing to Xun Guqi, without stopping for a moment.

She often listened behind the screen but never came out.

This guy actually painted her?

Tang Yin was anxiously trying to explain to Zhu Zhishan when he caught a glimpse of that face out of the corner of his eye. His mind went buzzing and his body tilted, nearly falling to the ground with the chair.

The real one!

"I, I, I... I suddenly remembered that I still have some paintings to finish. I'm going to go back and draw six cat pictures. I'm going to draw six of them today!"

He stood up, and the chair slid backwards. He didn't even bother to hold on, and he didn't even dare to look up at the screen. His steps were so frantic that he almost bumped into the door frame and rushed out.

"Oh my god."

Zhu Zhishan held up his face and looked at the shop entrance. "This guy ran away faster than the dim sum queue at the entrance of the prefectural school. Fortunately, Brother Wu didn't come because he was helping his father carry the goods, otherwise he would have ridiculed him for half a month."

They all felt that since Miss Wei came to Pingjiang Prefecture, Wu Sheng had undergone a major transformation. He was now stronger, more energetic, and could speak more fluently.

He didn't cross the line, he just looked at her silently. I think it would take a long time for him to let go of such a good person who suddenly appeared in his life.

When Lu Lan came in, he glanced across the screen and vaguely caught a glimpse of Wei Jinyun resting on a rattan chair. He did not move forward and turned to the small table by the window.

Zhang Renbai was buried in the chair, his white gown looked empty, his cheeks were sunken, and in front of him were three plates of mostly empty cookies.

"Can I sit here?"

Zhang Renbai was holding an open book in his hand. Hearing the noise, he slowly raised his head and said, "...I can sit down."

He saw that he was dressed in a red suit with a black leather belt around his waist. The sachet swayed slightly with his steps and his posture was upright.

His sachet?

Zhang Renbai's eyes fell on the sachet, and his hand holding the tea bowl suddenly began to tremble. He felt like something was blocking his heart, and he felt depressed and annoyed.

His sachet was embroidered with six raccoons of different shapes huddled together, which was particularly vivid and completely different from the styles hung by others.

Different, different. In her eyes, Lu Lan is different, right?

Zhang Renbai couldn't help but stuff a few more cookies in front of him into his mouth.

Lu Lan glanced at Zhang Renbai's sunken shoulders and the empty hem of his clothes. "You didn't look like this when I saw you in the summer."

Zhang Renbai subconsciously avoided his gaze and chuckled, "Lord Lu, you're joking. I've always looked like this."

Lu Lan didn't respond, her eyes falling on his open shirt. It was late autumn, but Zhang Renbai only had his collar loosely tied, and a thin layer of sweat was oozing out.

He frowned slightly, "Are you hot?"

Zhang Renbai didn't respond and continued to read.

"You look no more than twenty, and you still have parents at home."

Zhang Renbai suddenly raised his eyes, his eyes red, "Does Lord Lu always like to pry into other people's affairs like this?"

He lowered his voice and said, "Whether I am fat or thin, or how I live, what does it have to do with you, Lord Lu? Just take care of your own business and don't meddle in other people's business."

Lu Lan didn't say anything more to him, stood up and was about to leave, his eyes unconsciously drifting to the place behind the screen.

"Does Lord Lu enjoy disturbing Shopkeeper Wei so much?"

Lu Lan turned around slowly.

He was tall to begin with, and now he looked down at Zhang Renbai with a raised eyebrow, "What does the matter between me and Jinyun have to do with a commoner like you?"

Gu Xiang stood beside Lu Lantang's table, with Chao Jiu and Wan Wu following behind him without breathing.

Jinyun...when did it happen?

Lu Lan suddenly chuckled, her emerald eyes like a tiger stalking its prey in the mountains, "Besides, she likes being disturbed by me."

The two words "Jinyun" sounded so pleasant to the ears that it made Zhang Renbai jealous, but he didn't know how to refute Lu Lan.

He had never seen such a look before. It was not anger, but a scrutiny with absolute power that made his back stiff.

Suddenly, brisk footsteps could be heard from behind the screen, and Wei Jinyun came out, rubbing her sleepy eyes. The moment she saw Lu Lan, her eyes lit up instantly, and her sleepiness vanished as she ran over.

"Master Lu, you're here!"

The intimidating coldness Lu Lan had shown towards Zhang Renbai vanished instantly. He turned to look at Wei Jinyun, the sharpness in his emerald eyes completely fading.

"Well, here I come."

He smiled lightly and said softly.

"Mother."

Zhu Zhishan held his chin and took a sip of tea. "This must be an illusion."

Wei Jinyun took two steps forward and asked, "Then... did Lord Lu also bring the things I'm waiting for?"

The smile on Lu Lan's lips deepened a little, and he took out a roll of documents tied with a red string from his arms, "I brought it with me, and the notice outside the government office has also been posted, you see..."

He pointed at the bright red official seal on the document and said, "Once this seal is affixed, the images and stories of Liu Miao's daily life will be protected by the government. If anyone dares to copy your things or steal your ideas in the future, you don't have to show up. I will help you arrest them."

"Good Lord Lu!"

Wei Jinyun nodded excitedly and praised.

The Song Dynasty had no copyright awareness, and her "Six Cats' Daily Life" wasn't a book, so she couldn't apply for copyright protection at the Imperial College. But the prefect, a gracious and amiable governor, loved her snacks. If they could see the prefect's handwriting, no one in Pingjiang Prefecture would dare to recreate Yun Laixiang's original meows.

Her Meow Meow Cookies can rule Pingjiang Prefecture!

Lord Lu said that he would help to speak up and said that the prefect still cared about the people.

It worked, Mr. Lu!

Lu Lan didn't just hand the document over. Instead, she raised her hand and took it. "Want it?"

Wei Jinyun nodded subconsciously, "Yes, I do."

"If you want it, stop calling me Lord Lu."

Lu Lan softened her voice, "I told you my name."

Wei Jinyun was stunned, "Huh?"

"My name?"

"Lu, Lu..."

Lu Lan deliberately slowed down her speech, emphasizing each word, "My last name is Lu, and my given name is Lan."

After saying that, he shook the document in his hand and said, "Come on, read after me, Lu Lan."

Wei Jinyun muttered softly.

"Lu Lan."

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The author has something to say: Hahahahahahahaha.

Jinyun: Lu, Lu Lan [poor]

Lord Lu: Turned over [rainbow fart]