Chapter 72 The second aunt
“This is kudzu powder, our real life-saving food.”
She used the small pot she brought with her to scoop half a pot of water, placed it on the makeshift stove to boil, then took a bowl of kudzu starch, diluted it with cold water, and slowly poured it into the boiling water, stirring constantly as she poured.
Soon, a miracle happened.
The milky white liquid in the pot gradually became viscous and transparent, and finally became a pot of crystal clear paste with a faint fragrance.
Feng Lan served the first bowl, and under everyone's nervous gaze, she scooped a spoonful with a spoon and calmly put it into her mouth.
Then she filled five more bowls and gave them to her five daughters.
"Eat, this is our family's lunch today."
Daya, Erya and the others took it without any hesitation and started eating it in small bites.
Time passes by every second.
Everyone stared at Feng Lan and her mother and daughter.
A quarter of an hour, two quarters of an hour... half an hour passed.
Feng Lan and her daughters not only did not fall to the ground and twitch like Chen Kangzhong, but they all had rosy complexions and looked full of energy.
"Did you see that?" Feng Lan put down the empty bowl in her hand. "As long as the method is correct, this is food that can save lives. If the method is wrong, it is a deadly poison."
Facts speak louder than words.
The villagers finally felt relieved, and a huge wave of shame and gratitude washed over them all.
The village head Chen Dequan was the first to step forward and bowed deeply to Feng Lan.
"Feng Lan family, we were wrong about you! Not only did you find a way for us to survive, you also taught us how to survive. We are really worthless!"
"Yes, Comber family, we are sorry for you!"
"We were just doubting you, damn it!"
The villagers apologized in unison, and their faces were filled with sincere apologies.
As for Old Man Chen and Old Lady Chen, who were forgotten in the corner, their faces turned pale and blue, and finally turned the color of liver. They wanted to make more noise, but found that no one paid any attention to them.
A few days later, in town.
The shop on East Street had been completely renovated. Above the door hung a plaque handwritten by Chen Kangbo: "Fenggu Embroidery Shop."
Daya was leading her sisters, carefully hanging embroidered handkerchiefs and purses on the shelves. She was excited and nervous, her palms sweating.
At this moment, a blue cloth carriage stopped at the door, and Mother Zhang walked in slowly, supporting the second concubine.
"Second Concubine!"
Daya hurried to meet him.
The second concubine looked around the elegantly and neatly decorated shop and nodded with satisfaction.
By chance, a woman passing by was attracted by the embroidery in the shop and walked in to ask, "Little girl, how much is this purse embroidered with orchids?"
Daya suddenly became nervous, her face turned red, and she stammered, unable to say a price for a long time.
The second concubine saw this, walked forward with a smile, and naturally took over the conversation:
"This sister-in-law has good taste. This is the best embroiderer in our shop. She embroidered it stitch by stitch. Look at the stitches, how fine they are."
"This orchid is embroidered so beautifully that it looks like a living thing. We sell this purse for a hundred coins each, but since you're the first customer, we'll charge you eighty coins for good luck. What do you think?"
When the woman heard this, she happily paid the money.
After sending the guests away, the second concubine pulled Daya aside and said gently, "Daya, your cooking skills are top-notch, but your business skills are still far from perfect."
She patiently taught: "To run a business, you need to be thick-skinned, considerate, and sweet-talking. You can't set a fixed price; you need to learn to cater to different people. If you meet someone who's straightforward, you can offer a small discount. If you meet someone who's fussy, you need to exaggerate the price and make her feel like she's getting a great deal."
"As for the accounts, we can't be careless at all."
As she spoke, she asked Mother Zhang to invite a middle-aged man who looked very smart and capable to get off the carriage.
"This is Mr. Wang, a famous accountant in the city. I specially invited him to help you. From now on, the accounts of the shop will be handed over to him, and you can learn from him."
Daya listened to the second concubine's heartfelt words, and looked at the extraordinary Mr. Wang in front of her, and was so moved that her eyes turned red. She knew that the second concubine was sincerely paving the way for her.
She took out something in a brocade box from the counter and presented it with both hands.
"Second Auntie, this is a little gift from me, please accept it."
The second concubine opened it and saw an exquisite round fan. One side of the fan was embroidered with orchids in the snow, which was elegant and graceful, while the other side was embroidered with a few spring orchids swaying in the wind, which was full of vitality.
The two sides are different colors and the workmanship is exquisite.
"What a clever idea!" The second concubine couldn't let it go.
Later, at a flower-viewing banquet hosted by the wife of the prefect, the second concubine attracted the admiration and admiration of all the noble ladies present with this double-sided embroidered round fan, and they all asked who had embroidered it.
Fenggu Embroidery Shop had already become famous in the county's upper-class circles before it officially opened.
In Pingjiang Village, the fragrance of kudzu starch soup wafts from the chimneys of every household.
The villagers held their bowls and ate the hard-earned food, and their gratitude towards the Dongyuan family deepened.
In the east courtyard, Feng Lan watched her daughters chattering about interesting things in the shop, and looked at the steady smile on her husband's face, feeling at peace in her heart.
She knew that the hard times were over.
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