The new shop is much larger, so Meng Zhao enlarged the counter for braised meat. At this moment, Meng Zhao and Aunt Feng'e are both standing behind the counter, introducing the products to customers.
"We sell our secret-recipe braised dishes, including pig's trotters, pig's knuckles, pork belly, as well as various chicken and duck products, spicy rabbit heads, and rabbit meat. We also have new potato noodles, various skewers, and vegetarian dishes. Which would you like, sir?"
The man pointed to the basin next to Meng Zhao and said, "I want fifty coins' worth of braised meat. Bring me a basin."
Meng Zhao quickly replied, "Okay, I'll get it for you right away." With that, she skillfully cut the various braised meats carefully and neatly arranged them in a bowl according to the customer's request.
"Your total is sixty-five coins. I'll give you two extra spoonfuls of the original broth from this braised dish so it will taste even better when you get home."
Since it was a new shop opening, there was no delivery service yet. Xiao Chuan helped take the cut braised meat outside to Shen Yun and Aunt Liu so they could give it to customers to try. After a while, Xiao Chuan rushed in anxiously and shouted, "Sister Meng, there's a lion dance troupe outside, and a lot of people are watching. It seems like there are other shops opening too."
Hearing Xiao Chuan's words, Meng Zhao was startled. She hadn't heard of any other shops opening nearby when she was renovating.
There's only so much foot traffic on the street. We only managed to attract customers thanks to Shen Yun and Liu Niangzi's hard work hawking their wares. But once the lion dance troupe appears, they'll definitely draw everyone's attention.
This would inevitably have a significant impact on his shop's business. Thinking of this, Meng Zhao quickly put down his work and hurried out of the shop to check the situation.
As soon as he stepped out of the shop, he saw a familiar figure at the head of the lion dance team. It was Chen Xiaowu. When he saw Meng Zhao come out, he immediately quickened his pace, cleared his throat, and said loudly, "Owner of Chunfenglou, I wish Mengji Braised Pork a prosperous opening. I am here to present a lion dance performance, which will be performed for three consecutive days."
Meng Zhao's mouth involuntarily opened wide. She had thought about hiring a lion dance team to celebrate the opening, but a lion dance team plus the drummers would have at least ten people, and it would cost four or five taels of silver a day.
The price was indeed not cheap, but it wasn't worth it if she only hired him for one or two hours. She never expected that the matter that had troubled her for so long would be resolved by Xiao Youzhi.
Meng Zhao quickly came to her senses and hurriedly thanked Chen Xiaowu, "Thank you, thank you! I also wish Chunfenglou a prosperous business and abundant wealth!"
After saying that, he pulled Chen Xiaowu aside and asked what was going on. Chen Xiaowu chuckled and said, "Our young master was very satisfied with the batch of ingredients that Boss Meng sent over a few days ago. Hearing that Boss Meng's branch store was opening, he specially asked me to send over a gift. So, does Boss Meng like it?"
Meng Zhao grinned from ear to ear, saying happily, "I love it! I love it! Brother Xiao Wu, you must thank your young master properly for me; I'm absolutely thrilled with this gift!"
Chen Xiaowu turned around and waved to the crowd. A burly man ran over and said, "This is Chen Zheng, the manager of the lion dance team. The money has already been paid. They'll be here for the next three days. If Boss Meng needs anything, just give him instructions. I have to go back and report, so I won't stay any longer."
Meng Zhao first nodded to Chen Zheng, then turned his gaze to Chen Xiaowu, "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Xiaowu. Come over for dinner next time you have time, it'll be on me."
Chen Xiaowu nodded happily. Actually, his young master just asked him to prepare a suitable gift to send over to show his support when Mengji Braised Pork opened. He thought for a long time but didn't know what to prepare. Then he remembered that he loved watching lion dance and acrobatic performances.
He thought to himself that Boss Meng had just opened a new shop and probably couldn't afford a lion dance troupe, so he suggested to the young master that they hire one, and the young master agreed immediately.
After Chen Xiaowu left, Chen Zheng raised his hand and bowed, "Boss Meng, how do you think we should act?"
After thinking for a moment, Meng Zhao arranged, "Then I'll trouble you to perform in front of the shop for 15 minutes first, to gather the crowd around here, then walk around the street, then come back and perform for 15 minutes, then change to another street and continue walking. In this way, you can walk through all the surrounding streets in a day."
After listening, Chen Zheng immediately directed his men to set up a display in front of the shop. As soon as the performance started, it attracted a large crowd of passersby. Meng Zhao moved the table full of bowls and basins to the side, because something even more eye-catching was coming. The bowls and basins could be moved to the side.
Even Xiao Chuan, who had been helping out in the shop, was drawn by the excitement and couldn't resist joining the crowd to watch the lion dance. Meng Zhao quickly pulled him over and handed him a handful of copper coins. "Xiao Chuan, hurry up and go to the street corner to buy me nine feet of red cloth."
Upon hearing Meng Zhao's instructions, Xiao Chuan ran out without saying a word. However, when she brought back the red cloth, Meng Zhao was in a dilemma. Although she had been practicing calligraphy, she still lacked confidence in writing such large characters on the cloth.
"Sister-in-law, is there anything I can help you with?" Hearing the question, Meng Zhao looked up sharply and saw that it was indeed Shen Qinghe standing in the shop.
He was somewhat surprised, "Second brother? Didn't you go to the county school?"
Because she had already transferred most of the staff over today and felt that she could handle the workload, she didn't ask Shen Qinghe to come.
Before she could finish speaking, Song Kun suddenly jumped out from behind Shen Qinghe and said with a grin, "Sister Meng Zhao, I also skipped class to help you."
Meng Zhao's eyes widened in disbelief. Shen Qinghe? Skipping class? Can those two words be put together?
Shen Qinghe glared at Song Kun and quickly explained, "No, sister-in-law. The teacher had something to do today and asked the teacher for leave to come."
Meng Zhao turned to look at Song Kun, who looked guilty and muttered, "The teacher had already left when I wanted to ask for leave."
As more and more customers entered the shop, Meng Zhao couldn't care less about anything else. He quickly pulled Shen Qinghe to the table, spread out a red cloth, and asked him to write down the shop address and opening activities.
Then they went to the backyard and found two bamboo poles to tie on. Just then, the lion dance team had already performed for a quarter of an hour. Meng Zhao had Shen Qinghe and Song Kun each hold a bamboo pole and follow the lion dance team to patrol the streets.
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