Miao Wan immediately invited Ruan Jialin to the main room and stared at him with burning eyes.
Ruan Jialin felt like a piece of braised food being stared at by the wolfhound from the Zhang family next door, and couldn't help but shrink his neck.
"Cousin, why are you looking at me like that?"
Miao Wan organized her words. "Cousin, as a student, does he have time to get involved in the family business?"
Ruan Jialin groaned, "My father whipped me out of my position as a student. I won't be able to pass the exam. I can only rely on my cousin. The family business needs to be inherited, so my father and I will manage the Ruan family business."
"Well... then there's only a small restaurant left?" Miao Wan's expression was a little subtle.
Ruan Jialin was furious. "That was to save my uncle, not because my father and I don't know how to do business!"
Ultimately, it was all the fault of those scumbags in the Marquis of Jingyang's mansion. Miao Wan knew what was going on and nodded obediently.
She was also a little curious. "Did my great-grandmother really come from the palace? Did she serve the Empress?"
When Ruan Jialin saw that Miao Wan believed it, he brushed his robe and felt his face back.
"Anyway, that's what my great-grandmother told outsiders. She also said that my great-grandfather's ancestors were imperial chefs, and that the dishes he cooked were rewarded by the previous emperor. That's how our Ruan family got rich. In fact, all eight generations before my great-grandfather were peasants and had never been to the capital."
Miao Wan: "..." I understand. This great-grandmother has mastered the marketing tactics.
Qiao Shengwen raised his head from the chessboard. He finally understood how the Ruan family had become so wealthy. It turned out that their ancestor had married a good wife.
Ruan Jialin didn't believe her great-grandmother's words at first. "If you hadn't brought these things, Awan, I would have thought she was just scheming. I didn't expect you to learn so much from your aunt. I guess she must have passed them on to her? So what she said was true!"
If you don't brag about this, what are you waiting for?
Miao Wan felt even more subdued. Only she knew that her great-grandmother had indeed given her a high status, just like when a contestant at the graveyard gave herself a high status by saying she was a female supporting actress.
She pondered, "But the Ruan family never did rouge and powder business before. If there were merchants coming from Jiangnan..."
Ruan Jialin glanced at Qiao Shengwen and said, "You're worrying about nothing. If you don't believe me, Awan, ask Uncle Qiao. Since ancient times, whether in the capital or Jiangnan, how many shops with good business don't have a story? If you are modest, your ancestors have produced dukes, generals and ministers. If you are not modest, just start your name with the word "imperial". Without a saint, their family will not be able to survive. Who cares about this? It all depends on the quality of the goods in the shop."
Any store that is older will have a history of at least a hundred years.
If you don't mention that your own things have been praised and amazed by at least a first-rank official, you would be too embarrassed to ask for sale.
Ruan Jialin patted his head. "Oh, right? Some people say there's nothing to be afraid of. Back when my great-grandmother was around, the Ruan family's business was so prosperous. It's said that the sage of the previous dynasty even gifted us a golden ruyi with an imperial seal on it. But in fact, the old lady had someone melt the gold and forged it herself. No one else knew about it, and the jade ruyi has been enshrined in the shop for many years."
Later, this capable great-grandmother, perhaps fearing that her descendants would not be able to keep the family fortune, took the jade ruyi underground.
However, many people in Suzhou remember this incident. They all know that there was an old lady in the Ruan family who once served as a ceremonial attendant to the Empress.
Miao Wan suddenly realized that there was no anti-counterfeiting in this era. As long as the product had a good reputation, don't exaggerate and just brag as much as you want.
Then she felt relieved, but...
Miao Wan looked at Ruan Jialin's face and thought it was really too ugly.
The young man who was raised in the mountains and rivers of the south of the Yangtze River actually had a good foundation, but it was a pity that he was badly damaged by the scorching sun in the northwest.
If you become a shopkeeper like this, no one will dare to buy things used by the Queen Mother.
She stood up and said, "My cousin should have told me that you were in charge of the Ruan family's business. I wouldn't have to worry so much these days."
I can't let you have so much freedom for so long.
Ruan Jialin chuckled, "I've been to Jufu Restaurant. It's amazing that you've inherited your great-grandmother's talent. You run your shop much better than Ruan's Restaurant. How can I say that?"
"There is also Qianjin Tower!" Miao Wan also smiled at Ruan Jialin.
"Thank you for your hard work these past few days, cousin. I'll take care of your face later. While you're at it, you can take on Aunt Geng's training, but the content will need to be different."
Everyone's expectations of Aunt Geng have been lowered again and again. Miao Wan only expects her to explain the product clearly.
But for Ruan Jialin, the flattery must be clear!
Miao Wan was excited to get the aloe vera repair mask ready. She stood up and paused for a moment, remembering what Ruan Jialin had just said about Jin Ruyi. She suddenly slapped her head.
She said she had forgotten something and couldn't remember it.
In order to make amends for stealing the prescription, Sun Laohuo pawned the golden knife left by his master, and she bought it back before the New Year.
She had originally planned to send it directly to the restaurant on February 2, the day when the Dragon raises its head, to add some color to Ju Fu Restaurant, but Tao Tao was in a hurry to come out... She completely forgot about the pain.
"Uncle Geng, Uncle Geng, where did you put the golden knife I asked you to buy from the pawnshop?"
Uncle Geng heard the noise and came out of the kitchen. "Is that the wooden box with the red diamond pattern? It's in the storeroom in the east row house."
Miao Wan thought, if she sent it over now, Sun Ada would definitely look for it when he got his dividend, but he didn't find it.
If he knew that she had forgotten for half a year, would he kill her with a golden knife?
How about... adding some drama to yourself?
Miao Wan quietly slid over to Uncle Geng and began to practice what she had learned. "Uncle Geng, from now on, no matter who asks, you can just say I told you to search all over the northwest. It wasn't until the end of August that I finally heard about the golden knife, and I rushed out to buy it overnight. It just so happened to be delivered to your door with great fanfare when we launched our new product in September."
This golden knife was taken away because it was recognized by the person with the eagle eyes. It was once a family heirloom of the steward of the imperial kitchen of the previous dynasty. The steward was best at the "Bo Xia Gong" technique, which was highly praised by the old saints!
There is nothing wrong with the logic!
Uncle Geng didn't understand why they were making such a fuss. "How could the Zhang family not know whether I went out or not?"
Miao Wan chuckled, "The crops in the fields are almost ripe, right? It's a good opportunity for you to go to the countryside and help Uncle Zhang and Uncle Wu for a few days. That way you don't have to run back and forth."
Uncle Geng: “…”
When Miao Wan turned around and held Taotao to feed her, she was thinking carefully to see if there was anything she had forgotten. Her brain really wasn't working very well.
I thought about it over and over but to no avail. Taotao in my arms was moving left and right but refused to suck milk properly.
Miao Wan nibbled her gently and said, "If you don't want milk, then change to other rations."
It's almost six months old and you can start feeding your baby solid food.
I heard that it is difficult for children to be weaned, but her daughter just refuses to breastfeed properly. Let's see if she knows how to cherish it when the baby is gone.
After explaining this to Geng, she thought for a moment and said, "Alright, the braised eggs are already being eaten with egg custard. We're out of sesame oil. I'll ask your mom for some and steam a bowl of egg custard for Taotao later."
Someone took over Taotao, and Miao Wan concentrated on making facial masks for Su at home.
The Northwest is exposed to direct sunlight for a long time due to the high altitude, which causes great damage to the skin. Therefore, most Northwest girls make their own repair masks.
The things used are not complicated. The first one is an aloe vera repair mask, which has a similar effect to the aloe vera used by Li, but works faster.
You need to mash the aloe vera pulp, add peppermint oil, chamomile oil and flour. If you don’t have peppermint oil at home, you can use schizonepeta essential oil instead, which is more effective than peppermint oil.
There is no shortage of chamomile in the northwest, so Miao Wan also made some citrus essential oil and aromatic water, and then mixed them with flour to make a light ginger-colored paste and applied it on her face. The smell was not very pleasant, but the effect was immediate.
The second one is a whitening mask, which has a similar effect to the Baiyulong cream, but is more suitable for men or people with dry skin.
The ingredients used are very simple, milk, honey and egg white, mix with flour, and then apply it on your face.
Before Qianjinlou opened, Ruan Jialin became a lamb to be slaughtered, being pressed on the kang every day... with a messy face.
He could not even speak clearly, and he still had to deal with the woman and the little girls that Miao Wan had specially invited to embarrass him.
He felt a little aggrieved. "Aunt Geng, there's no need to be like this, right? Why do I have to make people smile?"
What will he do if a few strong men from the Zhang family come and put a sack on him?
Miao Wan confidently explained, "Aunt Geng is a woman, so she naturally has the advantage of being easily trusted. You're a male shopkeeper. If you want to make money in a female circle, of course you have to be eloquent and pleasing. Otherwise, why would anyone patronize your business?"
Ruan Jialin felt that something was not right. He was selling rouge and powder, not himself.
He looked at Li pitifully and said, "Madam, what if I speak too nicely and a young lady takes a fancy to me?"
Li touched her much better skin happily, "We are business people. If a young lady who can afford to buy rouge and powder from Qianjinlou takes a fancy to you, you have a wife, and she won't take you as a concubine. Even if you have eight guts, you wouldn't dare to cheat on her. At most, she'll touch her hand or something, and you won't be the one who suffers."
Ruan Jialin: “…”
Miao Wan touched and swallowed the bowl of dog food, savoring it carefully. It contained too much information. Her second cousin still wanted to save face. Was his face still there?
The first day of August was a good day, with clear skies and fresh air. It was neither too hot nor too cold before noon, and even the wind had died down considerably. Ruan Jialin even asked an old blind man near the tile market to do some divination, and it was a good day to open a business.
Miao Wan sighed in her heart. Before she knew it, it had been almost a year since she came to the Northwest. When she came here, she was still half dead, but now she has opened her second shop.
As expected of Miao Shiren, this has to be a lively occasion.
It was not a festival, so it was inappropriate to smash tiles. Miao Wan specially asked Ruan Jialin to take some money to Xiyong County and invite a lion dance troupe to perform with drums and gongs to liven up the event.
Although Su Rina was persuaded by Agula and Bayin to give up her various little ideas, she still wanted to know what kind of thing could be made that would be better than the things worth hundreds of gold that she had brought.
Bayin was afraid that she and Miao Wan would have an unpleasant quarrel, so he followed them. The two of them were in the teahouse diagonally opposite, watching the excitement here.
But unexpectedly, Miao Wan did not show up at all during the whole process. It was Ruan Jialin who was busy putting the finishing touches on the lion dance and speaking and unveiling the signs in front of the young and old men and merchants who were watching the fun.
He and Zhang Sanzhuang are not on the same path.
Firstly, Ruan Jialin could not speak Xining dialect. As an outsider coming here to do business, he would easily be excluded by the neighbors, and those traveling merchants and local wealthy people would not buy into him so quickly.
Secondly, he has been in business for longer than Zhang Sanzhuang, so he must be good at some tricks...Miao Shiren calls himself just a little bit worse than her.
After the lion dance was done, two couplets fell out of its mouth and someone read them out:
"A hundred years of old age change into new clothes, the way it is passed down in the imperial city."
"When a woman uses it, she becomes more charming; when a man uses it, he becomes more heroic."
The embroidered ball that was snatched by the lion dance exploded, and the actors pulled out a banner from it - Qianjinlou is giving away gold, first come, first served.
"Give gold? Give it to me without spending any money?"
"Hurry up and go in to take a look, it will be gone if you are late!"
Nowadays, few ordinary people can afford to spend silver, and many people have never seen gold in their entire lives.
After this banner was read out, traveling merchants and the more reserved main force customers could no longer squeeze in, and the only ones who could squeeze in were ordinary people.
Bayin stood up suddenly and ordered his servants, "Hurry, hurry, Agong, go grab it!"
Su Rina frowned. "What are they robbing? It's just to liven up the atmosphere. Miao Wan is stupid. What's the point of attracting so many ordinary people in with these petty profits? They can't even afford to buy the soap, so the customers can't even enter the store."
"Sister-in-law, how about we make a bet?" Bayin felt that Su Rina still didn't know enough about Miao Wan. "If we don't rob it now, we'll have to spend more money to buy the things inside later, and I guarantee that many people will fight over it."
Su Rina raised an eyebrow. "What's the bet? If I win, I'll be the one selling all the soap from now on."
Bayin nodded readily, "Alright, if you lose, don't come here so often in the future. The Qiao family won't let anyone bully us. My Wuliangha clan also needs the Qiao family, and we are not puppets of the Qiyan clan."
Su Rina stared at Bayin seriously, "Is this what your Anda meant?"
"Anda respects his sister-in-law. Do you really want to hear what Anda says?" Bayin was a little impatient. His sister-in-law had been getting more and more nosy since she came back from Northern Mongolia.
Wuliangha relied on Qiyan clan, but he was not Qiyan clan's slave. He used to think his sister-in-law was nice, but now he was getting more and more impatient to deal with her.
Surina understood that after Wuliangha got the recipe for milk curd and milk tofu, her strength increased greatly and she became much tougher than before. Her Abu forced her to let Wuliangha hand over the secret recipe.
She was in a dilemma. She wanted to earn more money to ease the relationship between them, but she hit the bottom line of these two brothers.
She sighed, "Okay, let's do as you say. I bet you that Qianjinlou will give away more things today than it will sell."
While the uncle and sister-in-law were making a bet, Qianjin Building was already crowded with people.
The lobby of Qianjinlou is divided into two parts. On the left is a display cabinet that can only be viewed from a distance and not up close. It is made in the shape of a wooden pyramid, and each layer is decorated with flowers and contains different products.
On the right side are high tables and high-legged chairs, which are used to accommodate guests who come to try out the products or ask questions.
The middle is very open, leaving space for guests to walk around and look around.
The entrance to the tan carpet on the second floor was covered with a crystal curtain, which is now blocked by a blackboard with a wooden border, on which is written "No entry for non-members".
At this moment, everyone rushed in. Fortunately, Miao Wan specially asked the Yu family to build a wooden fence.
The middle of the fence is blocked by a belt woven with colorful woolen threads, like a one-meter fence nailed to the floor. It is very strong and will not break even if someone bumps into it. People can only queue up obediently.
As for the reception work, there was no need to hire anyone from outside. Yu and Sun brought the female soldiers from the Yu, Lin and Yang families. They changed into uniform clothes and held trays in their hands with number plates on them.
"Everyone please line up. We have prepared sixty-six number plates. Qianjinlou only accepts sixty-six guests per day. Those who haven't received a plate should come early tomorrow."
Some people who couldn't wait rushed forward as soon as they got the sign, "Can I really get the gold? I got here first, give it to me first!"
Ruan Jialin walked forward with a smile and pointed to the wooden tower on the left. "Please look, guests. Please be patient. The first sixty-six numbers can be collected."
Everyone then had the mind to look at what was placed on the wooden tower. The most eye-catching thing was the crystal bottles placed on the brocade at the top of the tower. Sixty-six light golden crystal bottles were arranged in the shape of ingots, and there was shaking liquid inside.
"So that guests know, this is Qianjinlou's signature Golden Dew. It contains gold. If you sprinkle it on your wrist under the scorching sun, gold powder will appear instantly and it will also produce fragrance. A bottle is worth one gold coin."
Ruan Jialin smiled and handed the crystal bottle to the customer at the front of the line. "Customers who bring the crystal bottle of Golden Dew can purchase everything in Qianjinlou at half price. Qianjinlou only sells 66 bottles of Golden Dew every month. After the customers leave, I'm afraid people will rush to buy it."
The customer who got the crystal bottle shrank his neck in fear. He was just an ordinary citizen. What would he do if he was robbed?
"Of course, the opening of Qianjinlou is to bring blessings to our customers, not to bring bad luck. Let me give you a tip."
Ruan Jialin took out the small blackboard with the rules written on it and said, "Everyone, you might as well sprinkle the Golden Dew on your wrists when you go out. According to our rules, we won't be welcoming new customers later. If they want to buy something, they will have to pay full price from now on.
If a customer transfers the Golden Dew to another customer, or helps a customer buy something, half price for full price, or even a little cheaper... at least they can make some money, right? "
Huh? Ruan Jialin's words made the guests, all dressed in shabby clothes, even more excited. Compared to gold that could not be kept, money that could be kept was of course more important.
Those who are not good at dealing with people just sell it directly. It’s gold, can other people pay less?
As for those who are willing to buy on behalf of customers, that is even easier. He can sell it at 70% of the price, and the customer can still get 100% of the price even if he has to queue up the next day or the day after tomorrow. In this way, anyone who is not stupid will know who to ask to buy.
Even if you only make 20%, it will be enough to make a living!
Looking at it this way, Qianjinlou is so generous! Not only does it spread gold, it also spreads livelihoods for the common people! It's like a living Bodhisattva!
Everyone immediately received the gold and went out happily. As soon as they went out, they were stared at by the guests outside. Some of them who had never seen such a scene became panicked.
I forgot to ask the shopkeeper, what if people are not interested in the things in Qianjinlou?
Someone gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, pulled the cork from the crystal bottle and poured the wine onto his wrist. Under the scorching sun, everyone could see that his wrist seemed to be sprinkled with gold powder, shining brightly.
At the same time, a scent that sounded like the fragrance of flowers but also a bit sweet, and seemed to carry the lingering scent of grass, spread under the scorching sun, attracting the eyes of those who knew the matter to widen.
This, this is scented water! It's golden scented water!
The audience came to watch the lion dance and wait for the excitement to come forward.
Before we knew it, the lion dance had quietly faded away, leaving only the noisy voices of the crowd.
The author has something to say:
Note: The couplet query is modified from the couplet query on Baidu.
Today's update is late, and I will continue to drop red envelopes after two updates today.
The second update is around 22:00~
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