At this moment, the shop had just opened and wasn't very busy yet, so Qin San Niang called Mu Chun over and showed him the dried apricots, "These are the dried apricots I just made. Try them and see how they taste."
Mu Chun stepped forward and saw that the dried apricots were crystal clear, covered with fine white icing, and looked quite appealing. There was also another type, a darker color, presumably for a different flavor. Could dried apricots really be made into other flavors?
Mu Chun suppressed his doubts, picked up a fruit and put it in his mouth. He then showed a surprised expression. The soft flesh and sweet taste were a flavor he had never tasted before.
"Boss, this candied fruit is excellent! It's sweet and soft, yet not sticky, with a pleasant aftertaste. It's better than the candied fruit in our store, and even elderly people with weak teeth can enjoy it."
Qin San Niang smiled and pointed to another type of dark-colored apricot, saying, "This is called licorice apricot. Try it. It contains licorice, which can moisten the lungs and promote the production of body fluids. Besides being a snack, it also has health benefits."
"Hmm, it does taste like licorice, but it's not at all like medicinal herbs that are hard to swallow. On the contrary, it's sweet and sour, refreshing, and has a long-lasting aroma. The taste is quite good." Mu Chun exclaimed in admiration after slowly chewing and savoring it.
Si Ji used to sell candied fruit, and sales were good. However, since pastries were the main product, the popularity of candied fruit was relatively reduced.
"Boss, are you planning to add these dried apricots to our shop?" Mu Chun hesitated, unsure of Qin San Niang's intentions. He knew that his boss was planning to open a new shop.
"Of course, these dried apricots will be available in our shop, and the price will be set at fifteen coins per pound. What do you think?"
Although Mu Chun was a cook, he had worked his way up in Si Ji's business for over a decade, making him a true veteran with considerable experience in pricing various pastries and candied fruits. Even more commendable was his magnanimity. The few people Si Liren kept at the shop were all carefully selected; at the very least, they were all loyal and trustworthy.
As for the newcomers Xiao Jin and Cao Wenshan, Qin Sanniang thought they were quite good, but since they were newcomers, she needed to observe them further.
Upon hearing the price, Mu Chun pondered for a moment, "Boss, this price is acceptable. Our candied fruit is usually priced around the same. The cost of candied fruit is inherently high, so if we sell it at a lower price, we won't make much money."
Only then did Qin San Niang realize that Si Ji's candied fruit was not made in-house, but sourced from outside. She hadn't expected this; she had assumed Mu Chun and the others would make it themselves.
Seemingly sensing her thoughts, Mu Chun smiled wryly and said, "Boss, I can figure out how to make this candied fruit, but the cost is really not low, and the sales volume is not high. So it has always been lukewarm, and there is no need for me to make it myself. This stuff is mostly sold in teahouses and theaters."
"Master, think about it. If you sell candied fruit and the like to wealthy people who listen to music, or even customers in brothels, the price will more than double."
Most of our customers are ordinary people, though there are some wealthy people too. But wealthy families have their own cooks and don't need to buy candied fruit. However, I think this quality of dried apricots would sell well, since it's affordable and tastes good.”
After a moment's thought, Qin Sanniang understood. Brothels and similar establishments sold services, not the price of the candied fruit itself. Meanwhile, legitimate shops naturally focused on affordability and deliciousness.
However, supplying goods to brothels and theaters is still very profitable!
"However, boss, you've priced these dried apricots at fifteen coins a pound. Are you sure you're making a profit?" Mu Chun couldn't help but ask again. At this price, it would be fine if they were just ordinary candied fruit, but these dried apricots of this quality would probably require a lot of sugar, right?
"Fifteen coins a pound, please!" Qin San Niang made the decision.
At that price, she's guaranteed to make a profit! Besides, she still has nearly two thousand kilograms of dried apricots! Although she has natural preservation potential, she wants to sell them quickly. If they sell well, she can set up a processing plant in the village to specialize in making dried fruit and canned goods.
Firstly, it provides a steady stream of income, and secondly, it allows the villagers to become wealthy. After all, if only one family stands out from the crowd, they'll eventually become the scapegoat, and they won't even know how they died!
The tallest tree in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind; Qin San Niang understood this principle from a young age.
She remembers being taught to hide her talents when she was a child, thanks to the earnest teachings of her mother, Ms. Qi.
"Our store will soon launch new dried apricots. During the launch period, we will give away half a pound free for every pound sold within three days, and you can also try them for free."
You can prepare some small plates, cut the dried apricots into small pieces, and put some small skewers on top. I've already prepared that.
Qin San Niang took out the toothpicks she had prepared and handed them to him. Toothpicks? There were plenty in her space!
After explaining the apricot preserves to Mu Chun, he gathered everyone in the shop together for a short meeting.
"After I went back these past few days, I thought about it again. I felt that everyone was working really hard every day, so I thought about changing the work rules."
All employees in our store, whether in the kitchen or the front of the store, are entitled to two days off each month. However, it is essential to request leave in advance to ensure there are no vacancies. If anyone fails to request leave, their overtime pay will be doubled as compensation.
Currently, there is only one person in the accounting department. If Accountant Cao needs to take leave, Mu Chun will take over the recording for one day, and you can tidy it up when you return.
Qin San Niang had thought about this matter long ago. People in this era work very hard, constantly toiling and working every day, not even as well as the single people who used to work 996. But even so, they still had no complaints.
Hearing that they could get a break, everyone was overjoyed. If they didn't get a break, they could get double pay. Oh my, what a great deal!
"Boss, thank you so much! We're incredibly lucky!" Xiao Liu laughed heartily. He used to be a shop assistant, in charge of goods handling and warehouse organization. Although he was now a shop assistant, he and Xiao Jin still shared those responsibilities. In fact, the workload was even heavier than before, but even so, he had no complaints whatsoever; on the contrary, he was doing it with great enthusiasm!
The previous employer was good, but the new employer is even better. The wages keep increasing, and even his wife says she is lucky.
The others were also overjoyed and echoed his words.
Qin San Niang smiled and reminded them that if they had time after work, they could go to teahouses, theaters and other places to see if they could find better sales channels.
Upon hearing this, everyone was astonished that it could be done this way. Thinking of those places, their eyes lit up. Their dried fruit tasted excellent and would definitely sell well! If they earned more, wouldn't their bonuses also increase accordingly?
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