“I live in the South City area. I’ll take some dried apricots and try them after I get off work,” Xiao Jin said eagerly.
He only recently learned that Ruyi Cake Shop was the old shop—Siji Cake Shop!
He had heard from his neighbor since he was a child how delicious the pastries at this shop were. He never imagined that he would be able to work in this shop. Just smelling the pastries made him feel satisfied! Moreover, Master Mu Chun and the others treated him very well. They would often save some of the pastries that were slightly flawed that day for him to take home and try. Of course, these things were done with the approval of Qin San Niang.
On her first day as the owner, she told everyone that Ruyi Pastry Shop would never sell pastries that had been kept overnight. Pastries with defects could be sold at a discount, and any unsold pastries would be left for the staff to handle themselves.
This surprised everyone. Although their pastry shop rarely has leftovers, even if they sell the flawed pastries at a discount, there probably won't be any left!
But occasionally there would be leftovers, and Mu Chun and the others would decide to divide these few snacks equally. Although there weren't many, with each person only getting two or three pieces, they were still made of eggs and flour, and the family ate them with great relish.
“Okay, then I’ll go try it with you after work.” It was Xiao Liu who spoke. He was a few years older than Xiao Jin, but he was only a young man in his twenties and already married. In the past few days, he had discovered that Xiao Jin was diligent and sweet-talking, and was no less capable than him, the “old man.”
After a moment's thought, Cao Wenshan suggested, "Business isn't too busy in the mornings, and I can help out. Why don't we split up and have the two of us go out to promote the business each day?"
After considering it for a moment, Qin San Niang thought it was a good idea and let them arrange their own time. There was no reason for the boss to hesitate when the employees were eager to improve.
"This is a good idea. You guys just need to discuss it and agree on it. It will definitely be a bit hectic, so please bear with us! However, if we can establish a sales channel, the monthly sales revenue will be credited to everyone, and your bonuses will be much higher. Also, knowing that you've all worked really hard these past few days, when you finish work, have Master Mu Chun weigh out two jin of dried fruit for each of you to take home for your families to try. Consider it a benefit from our store."
Also, with the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, our shop is launching a new batch of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) for the holiday. We'll also take this opportunity to promote our business. The zongzi come in traditional flavors like jujube and meat fillings, as well as various fillings such as apricot jam, red bean paste, mixed grains, salted egg yolk, and salted pork.
Two days later is the Dragon Boat Festival, and the women in the family have already started preparing. Liu and others have already gone to cut zongzi leaves today.
Constantly introducing new products is also a marketing tactic. It's not about making a lot of money, but about increasing the store's visibility and building momentum to boost the bakery's influence.
The crowd cheered, marveling at the generosity of the host.
The taste of these dried apricots is sure to be loved by my family; everyone's hearts are burning with excitement! I just hope the business will get better and better, and like the owner said, that we can open branches all over Jiangzhou in the future.
After finishing her business, Qin San Niang tidied her clothes again. She had another important matter to attend to today: visiting the county magistrate's wife.
Before leaving, Sili Ren instructed her to make sure she maintained contact with the magistrate's wife, as she could be of great help in a critical moment.
For the past two weeks, I haven't taken the initiative to visit them, partly because they've been very busy at home and partly because the timing wasn't right!
With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, three days ago, Qin San Niang sent a visiting card, earnestly hoping to meet Yang Shi.
This was something she, with her modern soul, found very difficult to adapt to. For her, it used to be just a matter of a phone call, but in the present-day Dasheng, few women could show their faces in public. Even outsiders who wanted to pay a visit had to present a visiting card at least three days in advance and obtain the hostess's permission before they could go. If He Yingyuan hadn't reminded her, she would never have thought of this.
When Yang saw the visiting card, she felt that the surname looked familiar. After flipping it open, she realized who the person was. Wasn't he the current owner of Siji Pastry Shop?
When the maidservant beside Madam Yang saw her frown, she assumed it was someone she didn't want to see, so she said, "Madam, he's just a small shopkeeper. If you don't want to see me, just have the gatekeeper turn him away."
Madam Yang waved her hand. This woman surnamed Qin was indeed just a small shopkeeper, but Si Ji had been completely taken over by her. Her two pastry shops in the north had been revived because of Si Ji. Although the profits were not much, they were still continuous. Who would want to make enemies?
Women from high-ranking families like Madam Yang are adept at weighing the pros and cons, and she immediately rejected the maid's idea.
"I want to see this person. Huanqing, have the gatekeeper send a message to Ruyi Cake Shop, saying that I, the mistress, invite their owner to a meeting at the mansion in three days."
...
Qin San Niang followed the maid through the side door, passed through a hanging flower gate, and went around a not-too-long covered corridor before entering the back hall. Madam Yang was sitting there, and an old woman stood bowing, seemingly reporting something.
A moment later, a maid led her into the main hall.
Without glancing to the side, Qin San Niang stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This humble woman, Qin Jiangqiu, greets Madam."
This wasn't the first time Yang had seen her, but she had been dressed as a man before. Now that she was dressed as a woman, Yang didn't recognize her at all, only feeling that she looked somewhat familiar. After asking her in detail, she learned that Qin San Niang said that she was Qin Yan's elder sister.
Upon hearing this, Madam Yang instantly felt more at ease with this person. How could she not? That glass lamp had been a great help to the couple! She then smiled broadly.
"I never imagined you two siblings would look so alike, both so beautiful! No wonder you looked so familiar! Please, have a seat!" As expected of the matriarch of a wealthy family, she was truly a woman of great social graces.
Qin San Niang quickly thanked her and then sat down in the lower seat.
Seeing this, Yang was even more satisfied.
It's hard to believe that He County, such a small county, is a place where hidden talents reside.
Although the woman in front of her claimed to be a peasant woman, Yang sensed a composure in her words, actions, and speech. She had only ever felt this kind of composure from the daughters of prominent families; it was a kind of certainty that came from knowing everything.
Madam Yang couldn't understand why Tan San Niang, a mere peasant woman, possessed such an aura. She couldn't help but realize that Tan San Niang was no ordinary person; otherwise, why would Si Li Ren have entrusted the entire Si Ji (a department of state affairs) to her?
He says it's a transfer? But can he fool her if he can fool others?
Everyone in the Ruyi Cake Shop, as well as the secret recipe cakes, are exactly the same as before!
At first, Madam Yang thought that Tan San Niang was Si Li Ren's representative left in He County, but now it seems that this is not the case.
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