"Okay, this one, and one cucumber salad and one stir-fried vegetable dish, please."
Ah Nian wrote down the menu, then turned around and picked four small cucumbers from the fence.
Chen Jing glanced at it casually: "This cucumber is still tender! It'll definitely taste good. You have a good eye."
As he spoke, he handed Ji Xia a glass of watermelon juice: "Have some to cool down."
Ji Xia gave him a smug look, took a sip of watermelon juice, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief, feeling all the summer heat disappear.
"This place is nice, isn't it? Even though it's only been open for a few months."
"It's good, but there aren't many customers. I'm afraid it won't stay open for long."
Ji Xia looked up at the shimmering stream in the distance, the ducks and geese playing in the small pond, and the romantic and poetic courtyard. This kind of farmhouse restaurant was quite nice, just like the farmhouses of later generations.
Unfortunately, there aren't many wealthy people in this era, and there's no opportunity to advertise. If it were ten years later, business would be much easier.
Chen Jing couldn't help but chuckle: "You're overthinking it. Their main job is farming. Running a farmhouse restaurant is just extra income, no matter how many orders they get each month."
Chen Jing gave her some advice, and Ji Xia thought it made sense.
They own their own yard, so there's no rent. The grandparents and grandchildren are both cooks, so there's no need to hire anyone and spend extra wages. There are no costs involved.
The vegetables are grown in the yard, so they are absolutely fresh. The chickens, ducks, and geese are raised at home, and we can kill them whenever we want. We earn two or three yuan per customer, and with eight or ten orders a month, we can earn dozens of yuan.
Looking at the poultry raised in the pond, there are only a few dozen. If ten or eight tables are served every day, those few dozen poultry won't be enough to supply the customers for more than a few days.
Looking at the Tang family of three, the two elderly people are already quite old, and too many guests are not an option; they need to hire someone.
Ji Xia turned her head and greeted Grandma Tang: "Auntie, how long has your farmhouse been open? Do you have many customers every day?"
Grandma Tang raised her head with a smile, her wrinkles at the corners of her eyes blooming like chrysanthemums, her eyes full of satisfaction.
"There aren't many customers. Every two or three days, one or two groups of people come. There are about twenty or thirty orders a month. When there are customers, we work. When there are no customers, we tend to the fields and earn some work points."
Ji Xia nodded upon hearing this: "Twenty or thirty orders a month? That's not bad. Are they all for your signature dishes?"
"Yes, my old man was an expert at making roast goose when he was young, as well as roast meats and osmanthus-flavored pig's trotters. A few years ago, when someone held a banquet, they would ask my old man to show off his skills."
"This year, the old man's back is giving out, so he can't go to the fields. His grandson came up with an idea and opened a farmhouse. Every few days, some guests come to visit, which helps supplement the family income."
Chen Jing interjected, "Old Tang used to be quite famous in the city. Since he opened his courtyard, many people have come to eat here. Some have even introduced their friends. I was brought here by Old Liu."
Grandma Tang was delighted to hear this and started chattering about some of the customers' amusing stories. Speaking of customers, even though it had only been a few days this month, more than ten groups of customers had already come.
Upon hearing this, Old Man Tang just chuckled and urged his grandson to get started.
Before long, three dishes and a soup were served.
A large plate of whole roast goose with plum sauce, smashed cucumber, bok choy with oyster sauce, and pork rib, winter melon, and barley soup.
On a hot summer day, Chen Jing casually ordered two bottles of Tsingtao Pure Draft Beer.
Ji Xia glared at him: "So much food, can the two of us finish it?"
"What are you afraid of?"
Chen Jing picked up a roast goose leg and put it in her bowl: "Eat more vegetables. If you can't finish the roast goose, pack it up. Eat the rest if you can."
"If we can't finish it, there's still him. We'll have energy to work at night if we're full," Chen Jing winked at her, and Ji Xia couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.
She took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands, then picked up a goose leg and dipped it in plum sauce.
Freshly roasted goose, dipped in plum sauce, has a beautiful reddish-brown skin, while the rich sauce is locked inside the tender meat.
Ji Xia took a small bite of the skin. The slightly sour and sweet taste eliminated the greasiness of the skin fat, making it crispy and fragrant. The meat juice wrapped inside the skin was tender and flavorful.
She couldn't help but nod: "Mmm, delicious. Tang's roast goose is truly exceptional. Speaking of which, roast goose and roast duck in the south and roast duck in the north look similar, but in terms of taste and flavor, I prefer southern roast goose."
"Of course, Peking duck in the north must be served with pancakes and side dishes. Without side dishes, the duck meat has no flavor."
As Chen Jing spoke, he picked up some cilantro for her: "Eat it together, it'll help cut through the grease."
Ji Xia looked up and smiled sweetly, her bright red lips glistening with a hint of oil, making them look especially delicious.
"His woman is so delicious," Chen Jing said with a smug smile, and poured her half a glass of beer.
"I'll have the soup!"
Ji Xia pushed the beer back and also picked up a piece of roast goose for him.
With winter melon soup and watermelon juice, I've had enough hydration today.
The two ate slowly, and around six o'clock, four or five more diners arrived in the courtyard, making it a bit more lively.
Ji Xia nodded in agreement: "It seems that this method works quite well."
"It's pretty good, isn't it? Although the location is a bit remote, good wine needs no bush. As long as the food is delicious and the ingredients are fresh, more and more customers will come."
Ji Xia couldn't help but fall into deep thought. This model was so similar to the agritainment model of later generations.
However, later generations of farmhouses also had to spend hundreds of thousands on renovations, hiring chefs and waiters, and trying to make the dining area as beautiful as possible.
This is truly the original state.
In fact, at this time, you can earn your first pot of gold regardless of food, clothing, housing, or transportation.
In her later life, she also learned many signature dishes through Douyin and videos. If she casually recorded them, there should be more than a hundred recipes.
I've bought a few shops in Beijing. Should I try starting with the food and beverage industry?
However, she also needs to study, and then open a small factory to design clothes, so she doesn't have that much time.
Ji Xia glanced at Chen Jing. In her previous life, Chen Jing's group seemed to be involved in real estate, food and beverage, clothing and electronics.
Should we talk to him about it? He started his business a few years earlier in this life than in his previous life, so maybe he'll be interested.
While deep in thought, Chen Jing slowly ate her meal, glancing at her suspiciously a few times.
After eating for almost two hours, when it was nearly dark, Ji Xia and Chen Jing finally left, carrying half a box of uneaten roast goose and pushing their bicycles.
Chen Jing had drunk two bottles of wine and was a little tipsy. He chuckled and held Ji Xia's hand, saying, "Now that the exams are over, can we relax for a few days? How about we go out and have some fun for a few days?"
Ji Xia thought about it and it made sense. Since her rebirth, she had been dumping her scumbag boyfriend, enrolling in a year of retaking the college entrance exam, going to school, and starting a business. She had hardly had a moment of peace.
Now that the college entrance exam is over and her business is going smoothly, her workshop has trained many talents and is on the right track. She no longer needs to do everything herself, so she can relax a bit.
Ji Xia couldn't help but turn her head and smile sweetly: "Have you decided yet? Where do you want to relax?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
