Because she only opened one shop, she had enough manpower, so Shen Yun arranged for more people to distribute samples at the door. Even if the people who sampled didn't buy anything that day, as long as they had tasted her products and had an impression of them, they would always think of trying them again next time they passed by. Once they bought something, the small amount of samples they sampled would be worth it.
Meng Zhao walked around the shop and, seeing that everything was in good order, felt relieved.
As her business grew, she had to learn to delegate authority appropriately. She couldn't keep an eye on everything herself. Once she saw that there were no problems with the shop, she returned to the outskirts of the city early to oversee their mushroom breeding. They were still novices in this field, and she couldn't do it without her supervision.
By the time both braised pork shops opened, it was already the end of May. During this period, a lot of things happened. Among them, some competitors spread rumors about the women in the shops, saying that the women had been in bandit dens and were not clean, so the food they made must not be clean either.
Meng Zhao found it somewhat amusing. She really didn't know what the two had to do with each other, but it was obvious to the naked eye that because of these rumors, the atmosphere in the shop had become much more oppressive. The girls had fewer smiles on their faces and had become more cautious in their movements, for fear of causing any more gossip.
That day, Su Meng found Meng Zhao, her face full of guilt: "Shopkeeper, I'm really sorry. We've caused you trouble. Business has been much worse these past few days than when we first opened. I guess it's all because of us."
Meng Zhao reassured them, "I've already told you all, don't overthink it. I've run several shops before, and it's always the same. When we first opened, everyone was curious about the taste, and there were also gifts, so business was better. But now it's been ten days since we opened, everyone who was supposed to get a bowl or basin has already done so, and everyone who wanted to try it has already done so. Even in the county town, not everyone can afford to eat braised meat every day, so it's normal for business to decline."
Upon hearing this, Su Meng's tense expression eased slightly, but she was still somewhat uneasy. "But if we stay here, it won't be good for the shop's reputation. How about this, instead of going to the front yard, we'll go to the back yard to stock up on goods. Would that be better?"
“Su Meng, back when you first came out of the mountain stronghold, you were able to find work everywhere without caring about what others thought. How come you want to hide yourself away now?”
Meng Zhao chose Su Meng as the leader of the shop because of her past experiences. While the women around her were full of sorrow, Su Meng was the quickest to react, looking for work and raising money for her journey home. Even when she encountered a heartless man, she didn't become overly depressed and quickly processed her feelings. The first thing she did when she saw Meng Zhao was to ask if she needed any help. Meng Zhao admired this kind of hard-working and fearless woman.
Su Meng frowned and said, "If they're just talking about me, I'm not afraid, it won't hurt me. But I'm worried about it affecting the shop's business." They finally found a job, and if they ruin the business, it will be hard to find such a good job again.
“I’m the owner of the shop, and I’m not worried. What are you worried about? The novelty of opening has worn off, and now is the time to build up our regular customers. All you need to do is treat the customers who come in well, and that will be enough.”
Meng Zhao's tone was gentle but firm, leaving Su Meng with no choice but to nod in agreement.
Initially, because of the shop's opening, Meng Zhao was worried about being overwhelmed by too many things at once, so he didn't put potato noodles on the menu. Now that the shop is becoming more stable and the staff are getting more familiar with their work, Meng Zhao has started to create some new dishes to keep things fresh for customers.
Starch is available in all grain stores now, but it is expensive, so it is not cost-effective to buy it to make it. Since they had enough manpower, Meng Zhao arranged for a few people to make starch and potato starch, and also arranged for a few people to make smoked sausages. As a result, the two braised food shops launched new products one after another a month after opening.
"Mengji's new braised dishes are now available, including delicate and springy potato noodles. Sir/Madam, would you like to come in and try them?" Su Meng stood in front of the counter and would casually call out to passersby. Although she wasn't always successful, she could occasionally call a few people in to come in and try the new dishes.
The addition of potato noodles brought another wave of popularity to the shop. The sour, spicy and numbing flavor attracted many diners, and the shop was bustling with people. A man who had just finished eating potato noodles wiped his mouth with satisfaction and strode out of the shop, only to be stopped by an acquaintance.
"Hey, how dare you eat at this restaurant?"
"What's there to be afraid of? I think it's delicious. Even the side dishes that cut through the greasiness are crisper than what I make at home. If I wasn't afraid of being seen and embarrassed, I would have liked to take some home!" After saying that, he smacked his lips, clearly very satisfied with the taste.
"Didn't you see that woman cutting meat at the counter? She's the one who was kidnapped by the bandits before! Aren't you afraid they might be carrying diseases and the food they make won't be clean?" the acquaintance said in a low voice.
The customer shook his head. "I'm not blind. Those who have venereal diseases are all pale and thin. Look at the women in the shop. They all have smiles on their faces and rosy complexions. They don't look sick at all!"
Moreover, the shop was spotless; there wasn't a speck of dirt on the table corners or pot rims. When the potato noodles were served, the staff held the bowls with both hands, rim and bottom, without touching the food. Go look next door; when the waiter serves the food, his thumb is practically in the dish, and there's dirt under his fingernail. How could I not tell how clean it was?
He paused for a moment and then said, "I recommend you go in and try it. The potato noodles are so smooth and delicious, I guarantee you'll love them."
The other person immediately shook his head, "I'm not going. A bunch of women from a bandit's den, I find it disgusting."
"Tch, you're really unlucky. You're there to eat, not to find a wife. Why do you care what they did before? As long as the food is good, that's all that matters." Since they didn't see eye to eye, the man didn't want to say anything more and turned to leave.
As time went by and the weather got hotter, the shop introduced many new products, including spicy and delicious cold pot skewers with a rich aroma, as well as refreshing, sour and crisp cold noodles. These products completely captured the taste buds of the surrounding residents, and the business became increasingly prosperous.
At first, some people would gossip about their past, but gradually, everyone got used to it. After all, as time went by, who would care about those old stories? Attention had long been drawn to other things, and even if someone still mentioned it from time to time, no one took it as anything new.
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