Chapter 545 Buying a Shop
Staying at a shady inn sounds terrifying, but Jiang Baozhu felt nothing. She slept soundly until dawn, and when they left the next day, they even changed her horse.
"When we left, those guys were gone; Gu Yi probably took care of them."
Jiang Baozhu didn't ask any more questions, but after Gu Yi changed the horses, the speed of the carriage increased significantly, so it must have been a case of double-crossing.
"Oh, by the way, this is for you."
After saying that, Jiang Baozhu took out a piece of dark wood from her purse.
Don't underestimate this piece of wood; it's genuine lightning-struck wood, said to ward off evil spirits. Lin Yuesha was afraid of ghosts and monsters, so carrying lightning-struck wood close to her body was more effective than carrying talismans.
After Jiang Baozhu arrived in the capital, Lin Yuesha's life became more fulfilling.
With the imperial examination approaching, Xiao Qi had Fang Dazhuang accompany him as a servant, and Lin Yuesha had been thinking about preparing food for the exam.
The Great Qi Dynasty had very strict requirements for scholars taking the imperial examinations. They were not allowed to bring food such as cakes or filled buns, for fear that the candidates would hide small notes inside to cheat.
Lin Yuesha was in a dilemma, so she asked Li Maocai, who was taking the exam with Xiao Qi, and learned that many scholars had prepared rice noodles and porridge, and that hot water was provided in the examination hall for easy preparation.
However, the porridge only provides enough water to fill one's stomach, and drinking too much water makes one want to go to the toilet, so many test takers work hard to answer questions and only eat one meal a day.
If your physical strength can't keep up, how can your brain function?
Unfortunately, due to the strict regulations, Lin Yuesha couldn't bring in the sesame seed cakes with preserved mustard greens and braised pork that she had prepared, which made her very distressed.
"What kind of food can be brought in that is edible and can be eaten while running? Noodles are okay, but they won't cook properly when soaked in hot water, right?"
Jiang Baozhu helped brainstorm ideas. It's hot now, and everyone has a small cubicle in the exam room. If they bring cooked noodles, they'll probably go bad overnight.
Previously, many candidates had stomach upsets from eating spoiled food, resulting in them constantly running to the toilet to vomit and have diarrhea, which delayed their exams.
Unless North Korea and China join forces, missing this opportunity means waiting another three years.
"Cooked noodles, I've got it!"
Lin Yuesha was inspired by Jiang Baozhu. Yes, why didn't she think of that? The simplest thing is to bring instant noodles. A noodle cake can be soaked in hot water and it will open up. Moreover, it's fast food and you can still fill your stomach.
Rice porridge won't work, it's not filling, but instant noodles will.
Without further ado, Lin Yuesha didn't have much time. Actually, making instant noodles wasn't difficult at all. She made it twice and tested it with hot water before succeeding.
Vegetables can't be brought in, but dehydrated vegetables are okay. Crush them, dry them, and then soak them in hot water before eating.
"Moonlight Sister, this smells so good."
Jiang Baozhu watched from the side and thought it was unnecessary for Lin Yuesha to put the noodles into the oil. But she was surprised to find that they tasted so good after being soaked in water.
“If we can do this business and sell fried noodles to scholars, there will definitely be a market.”
In the northern suburbs of the capital, there is an academy with over ten thousand students from all over the Great Qi Dynasty. It is the largest academy in the capital.
With over ten thousand people coming and going from all directions, it was difficult to please everyone. Many scholars from both the north and south were not used to the food in the capital, which caused them great distress.
"Sister Baozhu, you're amazing!"
The academy Jiang Baozhu mentioned was called Qingzhu Academy. After the imperial examination, Xiao Qi also carried his bundle into the academy. Because it was located halfway up the mountain, he lived and ate at the academy, only able to return home once a month.
The village below the academy was almost entirely occupied by outsiders, mostly family members and servants who came to accompany their children to study. They would occasionally bring food to the academy.
Those who could afford to study at Qingzhu Academy in the capital all came from families with some wealth; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to afford such a large tuition fee. If one could make a living by catering to scholars, it would definitely be profitable.
However, because instant noodles are too simple, imitations appeared within a few days after Lin Yuesha made them. When her family was making spiced melon seeds, someone immediately followed suit, but the seasoning was not in the right proportions and they didn't taste as good as hers.
Since the scholar couldn't go down the mountain, he had to go to the surrounding area to buy food, so he could only make some simple dishes, such as hamburgers, meat rolls, steamed buns, and rice balls.
With over ten thousand people on the mountain, selling a hundred or so portions each day can accumulate a considerable sum of money; doing business relies on accumulation.
"I'm not familiar with the capital. On the way here, I happened to run into some scholars from Qingzhu Academy at the inn. They were whispering that it would be even better if someone could bring them a hot meal."
Qingzhu Academy has a special canteen, but women are not allowed to stay in the academy. All the work is done by men, who are rough and careless. For example, they never peel potatoes when cooking, which many people find unbearable.
Sometimes they're not washed properly, and the potatoes still have mud on the outside.
"We can make boxed meals, and if they have the money, we can also offer takeout."
Lin Yuesha was immediately inspired and wanted to bring the modern food delivery model over here, finding people with oxcarts or horse-drawn carriages who were fast on their feet to serve as "riders" for delivery.
Those with special requests ordered à la carte, while the rest of the people ordered according to the side dishes, and the dishes were delivered to the door at the appointed time for the scholars' servants to pick up.
This is Lin Yuesha's initial idea, and it's not mature enough yet, but she can make minor adjustments based on the general direction.
“Sister Yue Sha, you said I’m good at business, but I’m not as shrewd as you.”
Jiang Baozhu immediately agreed. She had Gu Yi and the scholars inquire around and found that although there were many shops in the area, they mainly sold writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and steamed buns and mantou made by the villagers. No shops were specifically set up for these items, so there was a great business opportunity in the food sector.
After discussing it, Lin Yuesha immediately wrote a plan. She believed that she was not cut out for business and that she was only relying on her transmigrated identity.
On the first day of the eighth lunar month, the family took Xiao Qi to the examination site. Lin Yuesha and Jiang Baozhu, along with their maids, went to Qingzhu Academy and bought a shop that same day.
The shop was very large. It used to be a shop selling writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and books. However, because there were too many similar shops around, the competition was fierce, and the owner couldn't make any money. Disheartened, he decided to return to his hometown.
Lin Yuesha took over and spent three thousand taels.
Three thousand taels was considered a fair price for the surrounding shops.
Because the shop caters to a more refined clientele, the floor is covered with wood flooring, the walls are clad in wood, and it is decorated with calligraphy and paintings.
The calligraphy and paintings were all forgeries. Since the owner was going back to his hometown and it was inconvenient for him to take them with him, he gave them all to Lin Yuesha.
"The next step is decoration. This wooden floor is not practical. I heard that there are blue bricks for sale nearby. Let's buy the smooth ones and lay them on the ground."
The shop mainly provides delivery services, so the kitchen is the most crucial part.
Lin Yuesha wanted to build a water storage tank and then a handwashing station. Water would be delivered by bamboo tubes for washing vegetables and hands, which would be convenient and clean.
Cooking inevitably produces oil fumes, so fans are needed to vent them, and meat and vegetables require a dedicated storage room.
Upon arriving at the Prince's Mansion villa, Lin Yuesha was very interested in the ice cellar under the main kitchen. However, investing in a small ice cellar would cost more than buying a shop, and they didn't have the means at the moment. They could only rely on people to go back and forth to purchase the ice to ensure freshness.
Those scholars are precious; if they get sick from eating there, it will ruin the business's reputation, making it difficult for the shop to build a good name in the future. Therefore, strict control over hygiene is essential.
She needs to hire a manager, then find a kitchen helper, a purchasing agent, a dishwasher, a sweeper, a waiter, and most importantly, a rider who is familiar with the terrain and quick on his feet.
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