After washing up in the evening, Tong Wen Yao lay on the kang, feeling the warmth coming from the bricks. She couldn't help but humming in comfort. Seeing this, Qian's mother patted her butt and motioned her to move a little. Fortunately, the kang was large enough, so she turned over a few times and fell asleep slowly with Xin'er in her arms.
Early the next morning, after washing up, Tong Wen Yao went to inspect the spicy strips workshop. The spicy strips produced would be transported to the county and state for sale early in the morning. If customers took them out to take them away, they would be packed in bamboo tubes. She had not had time to visit the county store, but Wu Zhu had not been back for a while, so she thought the response should be good.
Second Aunt was doing the accounting, and Qiu Zhen was following her. When she came back two days ago, she heard Second Aunt say that after studying at her house for a few days, Qiu Zhen had become quite fast at math, and she was only interested in accounting, so Second Aunt asked her to follow her and learn how to manage and calculate accounts.
When Cui's mother saw her coming, she took out the account book to show her. The spicy strips of cubes were selling quite well, with more than 500 kilograms sold. Cangzhou has water transportation, so there are many cargo ships coming and going. Most of them buy 50 to 60 kilograms, and there is even an order of 200 kilograms, which immediately increased the sales of cubes.
Their price in Cangzhou is eight cents per catty. After deducting transportation costs, labor costs, and store expenses, the net profit is four cents. If she and Wu Zhu split the profit 50-50, that would be two cents!
Overall it’s still okay, but how much you earn depends on how much money you have in your account at the end of the month.
After putting down the account book, she began to inspect the workshop. Since they were making food, most of the people employed in the workshop were women. As for men, only two were hired to take turns guarding the night. If there was any heavy work needed in the workshop during the day, they could be asked to do it.
Second Aunt knew the secret recipe of spicy strips, so she was not worried about the secret recipe being leaked. This time she came over, one, to inspect, and two, to teach Second Aunt a few more kinds of spicy strips while she was still at home so that she could launch new products when the time comes.
My second brother also bought the ingredients in town yesterday. This time she made three types of spicy dishes: spicy winter bamboo shoots, vegetarian spicy slices, and gluten spicy strips.
She worked out each step one by one, while Second Aunt watched carefully from the side, writing down key points from time to time. After she left, Second Aunt would prepare the base ingredients herself.
After each demonstration by Tong Wenyao, Second Aunt would practice two or three times before moving on to the next step. After preparing the base, she would rinse the peeled and cleaned winter bamboo shoots, then add them to the broth. Second Aunt would adjust the spiciness herself and let the flavor soak in. The spicy bamboo shoots were ready this time.
Tong Wen Yao took it out and showed it to everyone in the workshop. They all said it was delicious, but not spicy enough.
Qiu Zhen was perceptive enough to write down all the shortcomings they mentioned, just as she had done when Tong Wenyao asked her. As long as the base ingredients were prepared correctly, the remaining two dishes wouldn't be a big problem. Second Aunt also learned quickly the last two times, making them almost effortless.
After learning, Second Aunt wrote an announcement on paper in the office and started to purchase a large number of winter bamboo shoots. This kind of winter bamboo shoots is not the usual big ones, but the small ones. The spicy bamboo shoots made with this kind are fresh and delicious.
After finishing it, she had it posted outside the workshop. Since the villagers were illiterate, she asked Qiu Zhen to talk to them. At the same time, Tong Wen Yao decided to teach the villagers how to read when she had time.
I plan to see if I can find a teacher when she comes back, so that I can set up a village school.
Early the next morning, Tong Wen Yao went to the county with Tong Bo. She wanted to first check out the spicy noodle shop, and then go to sell the vegetables. The weather was cold these days, and the rich people in the county were tired of eating dried vegetables. Those who had hot springs could still taste them from time to time, but those who had a little money but no hot springs could only eat some dried vegetables.
After entering the city, she followed the route to the shop. The shop was simply called the Spicy Strip Shop, which was straightforward and clear. The front desk was relatively clean, the waiter was dressed neatly, and his hair was wrapped with cloth. She was very satisfied after seeing this. Thinking that it was getting late, she went to the wealthy area.
After changing clothes in the alley, she carried a shoulder pole and a basket and started selling outside the wealthy man's house. The first house Tong Wenyao planned to visit was the one that had placed a large order with her. As she said last time, she would never forget Sister Fang when buying good things, so she decided to go to her house first.
She knocked on the door at the same spot. A handsome young man opened the door. "Miss, who are you looking for?"
Tong Wen Yao took a look inside. The flowers inside had already withered, leaving only bare stems. She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. The last time she saw it, it was still full of flowers. Now the weather was getting colder, and the flowers inside had withered. Now, she had more confidence to take out the fresh vegetables.
Seeing that she was silent and only focused on looking inside, the servant felt a little disgusted and said in a bad tone, "Who are you looking for? If you don't speak, I will close the door." Tong Wenyao came to her senses and said hurriedly and embarrassedly, "Brother, I'm looking for Fang Mei, Sister Fang."
After she mentioned the person's name, the servant said, "Wait a minute, I'll go tell her."
Tong Wen Yao nodded, indicating that she would wait here obediently.
Fang Mei, who was cooking in the kitchen, had a worried look on her face. Ever since she bought some Portuguese tarts, she had not only made a name for herself in front of her wife but also gotten a promotion. These days, she'd been trying her best to make meals that her wife could eat. It had been okay a while ago, when she had vegetables to help her eat less greasy food, but now it was winter and all she had were dried vegetables and white radish. Eating just these two wasn't going to work! Even a good cook can't cook without rice. This was truly a dilemma.
Just as she was getting annoyed, someone called out to her, "Aunt Fang, someone's calling you out from the corner gate." Fang Mei was wondering who would come to see her now. Her family had told them they generally wouldn't let them come to see her. A flash of thought flashed through her mind, and she vaguely hoped it was the girl who had helped her solve her problem last time. Although, realistically, it seemed unlikely she would come, as it had been over a month since the last time, and she hadn't seen the girl since. She thought the girl might be a traveling trader.
As he thought this, he quickly stepped out of the door. After realizing it, he whispered, "Forget it, let me go see who is looking for me."
Walking into the corridor, I looked towards the corner door. There was a little girl with pigtails looking down at the ground. She was wearing a light-colored cotton jacket that was half old and half new. The little girl seemed to feel cold and kept stamping her feet.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
