A moment later, a commotion arose from ahead. Xiao Wu rushed over, panting, and called out, "Boss, boss!"
"Don't panic, speak slowly!" Xiao Wu was so lively that Si Liren always felt a surge of anxiety whenever he saw him.
“That’s right, speak slowly. Don’t scare your master. Be calm, be calm!” Qin San Niang said with a smile. Judging from the cheers in front, the cake must have worked well, and Xiao Wu had come back to deliver the good news.
As expected, Xiao Wu, ignoring Qin San Niang's teasing, hurriedly said, "Mrs. Qin, Master, our cake caused quite a stir when it came out! All the ladies and young women were amazed! They said they had never seen such a beautiful and delicious pastry! They all came over to ask how much the cake is!"
This really worried him!
Xiao Wu is one of the few people in the know. Currently, the ingredients for the cake are still incomplete. Although Mu Chun is already researching according to San Niangzi's recipe, it is still unknown when it will be made. That's why he quickly found an excuse to escape!
Upon hearing this, Sili Ren felt a mix of joy and worry! If he could take on such a big deal, the profits would certainly be considerable. After all, aren't businessmen all willing to risk their lives for money?
Qin San Niang was alright, and comforted them by saying that as long as Mu Chun followed the recipe, he would definitely be able to make the last ingredient, cream!
The magistrate's wife was currently receiving adulation from everyone, feeling quite elated. She hadn't expected the clerk to be so helpful this time. Today, she was in high spirits, not only receiving two excellent glass cups but also a special surprise.
In her heart, she was certain that Sili Ren was someone she could befriend. And as her husband had said, Sili Ren came from the Si family of Jiangzhou, a wealthy merchant family in the Jiangnan region. If her husband could put in some effort to get her transferred to Jiangzhou or Lin'an, that would be even better!
After pondering for a moment, seeing that everyone had taken their seats to eat, he instructed his trusted maid to greet them in the front hall, while he quietly went to the back courtyard and ordered someone to invite Master of Ceremonies over.
"Madam." Upon seeing Madam Yang, Master of Ceremonies bowed respectfully. This time, he also brought Tan San Niang along; after all, she was the one who brought the glass cup, so there was no reason not to introduce her.
"And this is..."
"Madam, this is the sworn brother I mentioned, Qin Yan. He also made this birthday cake." Naturally, the glass cup was also a gift from him.
Madam Yang looked Tan San Niang up and down, and thought that the man was handsome and had a heroic air about him. He was quite good-looking.
Thanks to Qin San Niang's masterful makeup skills, her feminine features were cleverly concealed, while her masculine features were not overly pronounced—just right. As for her voice, there was naturally no good solution; she could only try to speak as little as possible.
"Yes, I am very satisfied with today's birthday cake, and the young ladies are quite happy too. You did a great job. Just go to the steward to settle the bill after the banquet!" Madam Yang said with a smile, appearing very kind and approachable.
"Master Si, I've truly witnessed it today. Your Siji is thriving because of its strength, which is something that ordinary pastry shops can't compare to!"
To be honest, I own a pastry shop myself, but it's far inferior to yours, Boss Si. It's truly enviable! I've heard you're now also in the supply business, and many of your former employers in the county have benefited from your kindness and are now able to stand on their own two feet. This magnanimity is truly admirable!
Sili Ren, understanding the implied meaning, cupped his hands and smiled, "Madam, you flatter me! We are all in the same industry, and although there is competition, wouldn't it be better for a hundred flowers to bloom? May I ask where your shop is located? Your family is so large and prosperous, it would be a wonderful thing if you could sell Siji's pastries to Jiangnan or even further afield!"
"Oh dear, the owner is too modest. People are lining up to buy your Siji's pastries! Why would you worry about sales?"
"My shop is north of Dingzhou. If it could be transported from the south, it would surely be a great success, and I might even benefit from Si Ji's business!" Madam Yang smiled brightly, thinking that her boss was indeed a clever person; there was no need to worry about communication problems when talking to a smart person. Of course, there was another meaning behind her words, which was that her shop was far away and would not affect Si Ji's business.
"That's for sure. If Madam needs anything, she can come to me anytime. As long as it's something our company has and it's easy to transport, Madam can choose whatever she wants." Si Liren quickly agreed. It didn't matter who he did business with; the price was the same regardless, but he could offer a discount on the quantity, as a way of giving Madam Yang face.
The two chatted amiably and quickly finalized the details of the sale. As for signing a contract, it wasn't necessary for the time being; Yang would have someone handle it later. Si Liren didn't need to rush either. What difference did it make whether or not a contract was signed for a business deal with the magistrate's family? Besides, he didn't intend to make a profit on this first transaction; he would just consider it a sale, and as long as he didn't lose money, that would be a win!
Qin San Niang kept her eyes down, watching the two of them exchanging witty remarks in front of her. Although it seemed like a harmonious and happy scene, there was a lot more to it than met the eye!
After finally waiting for Madam Yang to get up, Tan San Niang quickly followed suit.
When Yang spoke, she didn't hide anything from the inconspicuous Qin Yan. The fact that Sili Ren could keep him by her side and not avoid the issue of buying and selling meant that Qin Yan was no ordinary person. He might be a business partner or an important relative or friend.
"Qin Yan, is that right? Your contribution today is also significant, and I know that well! Work hard under Master Si, and you'll definitely have a bright future!"
"Thank you for your guidance, Madam. I will follow your teachings!" Tan San Niang replied politely, knowing that this approach would never go wrong.
Sure enough, after hearing this, Madam Yang waved her hand and took her leave, saying that the guests in the front hall needed to be entertained. Master of Ceremonies dared not keep her and hurriedly saw her off.
"Alright, sister, our gift wasn't a complete waste. I think the magistrate's wife is quite shrewd. Let's just wait and see." Si Liren said in a very good mood, the tension in his heart easing considerably. Because of the birthday cake, they had become quite the talk of the town in He County. By tomorrow, everyone in the streets and alleys would know the word "cake"! Thinking that Chen Yushan would be so angry that he would suffer internal injuries because of this, he felt even better!
"Sister, if someone orders a cake tomorrow, should we accept it or not?" Si Liren was still a little uncertain about this, as Qin Sanniang probably meant that they shouldn't accept it.
Qin San Niang remained noncommittal; she truly could not offer any help in this matter.
"We still need to see if Master Mu Chun can make the cream. If he can, we can't take too many orders; one order a day at most is fine. Scarcity drives up prices; this is a form of scarcity marketing!"
"Oh, very good..."
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