Despite his words, Hsu Chiao-yu's expression remained stiff.
It was noon soon.
Zhang Daguang had seen the huge crowd of people long ago.
While everyone else went to school at noon, he didn't go; he and his wife were busy stewing chicken.
Looking at the young men, Gou Sheng's mother kept muttering, "Husband, you really planned this all out. Now I know why you insisted on going to Red Leaf Village to buy chickens, and why you insisted that we cook the chickens ourselves first to taste them. So that's what you were planning."
"Hehehe, every step I take is within my calculations. Others laugh at us, saying, 'Look at those young masters and nobles, they're obviously from wealthy families, eating so much that they're fat and bloated. How could they possibly eat the village's simple food? They need to eat some meat.'"
"sharp!"
Zhang Daguang shook his head and said, "It's not that I'm smart, it's that the old village head reminded us. Just you wait and see, these young people are coming this time. They have chickens, ducks and geese at home. We'll make a killing off them!"
"In the evening, I'll send a bowl of chicken to the old village head's house."
"Honey, how can you be so generous! I can't bear to part with it!"
"Fool! If the village head hadn't reminded us, how could we have gone to buy chickens and make money? This is called building relationships. When something good happens in the village in the future, people will be grateful and will definitely think of us. Even if it's just a little something mentioned, the information that slips through our fingers is enough for our family to live on for several years."
"Ah, okay, whatever you say."
Not long after, Gou Sheng, the village dog, returned from school and sniffed around.
"Ah! Chicken, it smells so good! Dad, give me a bowl, I want some!"
Zhang Daguang scolded, "Go away, go away! Stand at the door and shout that Zhang's Stewed Chicken is open for business. We welcome the young masters of the county to come and taste it. It's twenty coins for a big bowl and two big white steamed buns."
Gou Sheng said speechlessly, "Dad, do you really not know, or are you pretending not to know? Da Zhu's family is also stewing meat. They've already arranged with those students that they'll be making braised pork for lunch. Do you think we can sell our stewed chicken?"
Gou Sheng's mother slapped her thigh and began to howl.
"Husband, think of something quickly. If we just stew both chickens like this, we won't be able to sell them, and it'll be a complete waste if we eat them ourselves."
Zhang Daguang remained silent, his hands behind his back, and snapped, "Shut up, let me think about it."
After pondering for a while, he scooped a large bowlful of meat from the pot, piled it high, and then, with a pained expression, scooped the meat out of the bowl and put it back into the pot.
Then he placed a large bowl over the main bowl, found a hemp rope, tied it up, and carried it straight to Dazhu's house.
There were already many students gathered around Chen Xian's house. After finally squeezing in, Zhang Daguang gave Chen Xian a dry smile.
"Brother Xian? I'm busy. My wife made some stewed chicken at home, and I was thinking of bringing it over so you could try it. Your business is so good, you must know more about stewing meat than my wife does."
Chen Xian looked at his face with some doubt and said, "Isn't this inappropriate?"
Erzhuzi laughed and said, "Uncle Daguang, you're pretending to let my dad taste it, but you really want his help, right?"
Zhang Daguang chuckled, "Brother Xian, that's why I always say your kids are smart; they all imitate you, so quick-witted."
"I've noticed so many people have come to the village. My family has also stewed two roosters, but we're worried we won't be able to sell them. We'd like to ask for your help."
Chen Xian suddenly realized.
"Well, how much do you plan to sell it for per bowl? Set up a stall in front of my house later and call out your own price."
Zhang Daguang hesitated for a long time, "Twenty coins a bowl?"
Erzhuzi: "It's too expensive, Uncle Daguang. I like to tell the truth. Recently, the price of pork has gone up, and my meat and vegetable dish has also gone up by four coins. It's twenty-four coins a bowl now."
Zhang Daguang frowned, calculating.
Chen Xian countered, "How much does chicken cost per pound now?"
"Seven or eight coins?"
Chen Xian: "Then let's sell it for ten coins. Anyway, we can make a profit. Your stewed chicken hasn't really taken off yet, so I don't recommend setting the price too high. Otherwise, you'll just have to eat it yourself."
Actually, there's another point: Chen Xian's family's dishes are too famous among students. If he were to raise prices drastically, he would definitely be called a profiteer, since pork would definitely be more expensive than chicken.
Now, the Chen family sells meat for 24 coins, and the Zhang family's stewed chicken also sells for 20 coins. Any normal person would buy meat and vegetables from the Chen family.
Zhang Daguang laughed and said, "I'll listen to you. I don't have much experience. Wait for me, I'll bring my pot over right away."
Chen Xian looked at the steaming chicken, golden in color and glistening with hot oil. He picked it up with his chopsticks, blew on it to cool it down, and took a bite. It was tender, juicy, and smooth, and seemed to have some chili added.
"Mmm, it tastes really good."
Free-range chickens from the mountains don't need many seasonings. After cooking, just sprinkle some salt on them, and you have a delicious stewed chicken.
Soon, the Chen family set up a large pot, and the students began to line up in an orderly fashion.
Uncle Chen asked nearby residents and borrowed all the empty bowls from his neighbors.
The sorghum stalks were covered with plump, steamed white flour buns.
Steaming hot.
The students were quite tired after walking all morning.
At this moment, the aroma of wheat buns and meat makes one's mouth water.
They craned their necks to look into the yard.
A wooden sign hangs on the outside wall.
A bowl costs twenty-four coins and includes two steamed buns. You pay first, then take your food.
The students readily paid their share.
The place was filled with the sounds of clinking and jingling, but Cuihua was busy and didn't feel tired at all.
Uncle Chen was also calling out to the students and finding them stools.
In the countryside, stools are scarce. If you can't find a stool, you might as well just grab a couple of handfuls of wheat straw and put them under your bottom.
There was someone sitting on the doorstep.
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