Chapter 018 Show Him Off
"I promise!"
Su Wan agreed to his request, and the shopkeeper was willing to let them in and took her directly to the kitchen. Everyone in the kitchen was idle at the moment. After hearing about this, they couldn't help but laugh at her, thinking that the little girl was overestimating her abilities.
Su Wan went to the kitchen, and Su Yun stayed by her side, never leaving her side. He actually wanted to know what this girl was up to.
First wash the mushrooms, then tear them into small pieces and blanch them in water, then prepare the side dishes. There is a small handful of ready-made black fungus in the basket and soak it. Cut a small piece of lean meat into pieces and set aside. Onions and garlic are indispensable. There is no chili in this era, and everyone's food is bland.
The last and most important thing was to take a small potato and cut it into shreds. Her technique was very skillful, as if she did this kind of thing often. The knife kept moving on the chopping board, and the potato shreds were delicate and even.
Su Yun felt a little depressed watching her actions. Was she really a pampered daughter? Why did she seem to do these kitchen things all the time?
Su Wan wrapped the shredded potatoes with gauze and began to beat them with the back of a knife until potato starch appeared. He filled a small bowl with it. This bowl of water starch was the key to enhancing the flavor.
First, fry the minced garlic, then add the meat slices and stir-fry over high heat. Then add the mushrooms and fungus one by one. After blanching in water, they have become very soft and tender. The so-called toughness has been removed, leaving only the tenderness. Stir-fry over high heat, add a small bowl of water, thicken with water starch, and serve.
Su Wan served it in two plates and asked them to taste it. Her cooking method was rare, and everyone went from not taking it seriously at first to becoming curious.
After tasting each one, their expressions changed from inquiry to disbelief:
"It's true. It doesn't have that woody feeling anymore. It tastes so fresh. Paired with wood ear mushrooms and lean meat, the flavor is even better. It's really fresh!"
"Just a few people tasting it might not tell the whole story. It's really up to the customers to try it. What do you think, boss?"
The shopkeeper had put away his previous attitude. After eating it, he could not say with a clear conscience that it was not tasty. It was indeed much better than what they made.
He asked someone to bring the dish out to several tables of guests to try. After tasting it, they all asked for a plate. This dish has no price and no label yet, so how can it be sold?
But if there is business, why not do it?
"I'll take all your pine mushrooms. I'll give you an extra penny for the market price of two. How about that?"
"It's not a big deal, three cents is too little, I'll sell it for five cents a pound!"
The businessman saw the results, and she also saw the value. If not now, when?
"I've already given you an extra cent. Isn't it too much to ask for five cents? Mountain products like this can't be sold at that price. I can just go buy from someone else now!" The shopkeeper was unwilling to give way.
But Su Wan has an explanation:
"Shopkeeper, all of you in the kitchen just watched me cook. I taught you all my methods to make food more delicious. I have to charge you some apprenticeship fee. You all think it's delicious, and people outside will want to eat it right away. Now the most direct way is to buy my mushrooms and make dishes. If you don't want to, I can go to other restaurants and teach them this method. Naturally, someone will be willing to pay the price to buy it.
Besides, one pound of pine mushrooms is enough to make three dishes, so you're making a net profit!"
He definitely didn't want everyone to know about this method. He had to keep it a secret. He could make a lot of money this way every year at this time. When he heard Su Wan say that he wanted to sell it to another restaurant, he got anxious:
"You are such a cunning girl. You have such a business acumen at such a young age. I admire you. Okay, let's do as you say. Five cents a pound. Ah Cai, bring the scale!"
"The shopkeeper is a straightforward person!" Su Wan achieved his goal and smiled with satisfaction.
The shopkeeper was also helpless because of her:
"Girl, you have to be more righteous. I've done your business today, so you have to give me some leniency. You're not allowed to tell anyone else about this. If you still have mushrooms, and even every year in the future, I'm willing to buy them from you at a penny higher than the market price. Okay?"
"Okay, I won't tell anyone else. From now on, only Kelai Restaurant in Qinghe County will know about this method!"
Su Wan assured that potato starch cannot be used in all dishes, and she has no need to blackmail others for it. At most, it is an equal exchange.
This dynasty was still very backward, and many foods had not yet been discovered. The starch mentioned in the text only appeared in the later part of the novel and is not available now.
Thirty jin of pine mushrooms, five coins per jin, a total of one hundred and fifty coins, or one and a half taels of silver, plus the sixteen coins on hand, a total of one hundred and sixty-six coins.
"Thank you, shopkeeper. I wish you a prosperous business, abundant wealth, and prosperity from all directions. If the sales are good, I will come back to give you some in a few days!"
Su Wan smiled brightly while holding the money. The shopkeeper held his forehead and nodded repeatedly.
"Okay, okay, I'll lend you my blessing!"
Who doesn’t want a smart child?
After leaving Kelai Restaurant, Su Yun still felt like he was dreaming. Su Wan's operation just now really impressed him. He made so much money easily. If he continued to display the products in the market, not to mention whether they could be sold out, he would not be able to get such a high price.
"How about it, Fourth Brother? I'm awesome, right?"
Su Wan showed off the silver in front of him with a proud look on his face.
"Awesome!" Su Yun gave her a thumbs up. This was something he had to admit.
Su Wan was very happy to get the affirmation from his fourth brother. He immediately went to the meat stall and bought two pounds of pork belly, which cost eight cents per pound. He also went to the grain and oil store and bought ten pounds of flour, which cost three cents per pound. This was coarse flour, yellow in color, not very fine. Fine flour cost five cents.
I also bought ten cents of rapeseed oil. Three taels of oil cost ten cents, which is enough for frying for half a month. If you save it, it can last longer. I spent fifty-six cents and went to the bun shop to buy eight meat buns.
Two for three cents, eight for ten cents. There wasn't much meat in them, so I just ate some meat. I just spent the remaining sixty-six cents.
Su Yun followed her to buy meat and noodles, but he didn't see her buying anything for herself. He originally thought that she would buy some velvet flower hairband or something for him.
"Fourth brother, let's eat meat tonight, and big steamed buns!"
"Aren't you going to buy yourself something?"
"I don't want anything. I just want everyone to eat and drink well. Let's go home quickly!" Su Wan's smile was sincere, but it made Su Yun feel uncomfortable.
Now that she had money, she actually wanted everyone to eat and drink well. She didn't seem to be the kind of domineering and unthrifty young lady he had imagined.
"Su Wan, why do you know how to cook? And you're so skilled at it?"
Su Yun suddenly asked her a question, which made her scold. She had no worries about food and drink in the richest man's house, so why would she cook for herself?
"Mrs. Gu said that her daughter would follow her husband after she got married, and to be a good wife and mother, she had to learn how to cook, so she specially took some cooking lessons!"
Her argument was watertight and well-reasoned.
Su Yun nodded in agreement, but he did not agree with Mrs. Gu's point of view:
"Although it's said that a woman must obey her husband after marriage, it doesn't necessarily mean that she must know how to cook. If a man truly loves his wife, it doesn't matter whether she can cook or not."
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