Chapter 53 Now that I've taught you, I'll go to the school…
"Wen-zai, are you serious?" Grandma Guo was still a little worried. "But I remember there's a congee shop right across the street from our house, isn't there?"
"Aren't we stealing business from them?"
It would be better if they weren't on the same street, but since they're so close, she's a little worried that people might think she's just jealous and trying to steal their business.
Guo Baiwen had no idea that his grandmother harbored such complicated thoughts, so he explained with a wry smile, "Grandma, you're overthinking it!"
Guo Baiwen had passed by that congee shop several times and even eaten there.
They also sell porridge.
But what they mainly sell are millet porridge, chicken porridge, duck porridge, lean meat porridge, mixed porridge, and red bean porridge. Of course, in the twelfth lunar month, they might also add a Laba porridge.
In addition, their shop also sells some cold side dishes for porridge, such as pickled mustard greens, sprouted beans, and pickled bamboo shoots.
If they also sold sweet porridge, they would have put up a sign saying "Sweet porridge also sold" to attract customers long ago.
"I'm thinking of a confectionery shop, which sells different things than what they sell in their porridge shops."
Guo Baiwen's idea for a confectionery shop focuses more on the 'sugar' aspect, which is quite different from congee shops and pastry shops.
Besides sweet soups and porridges, it also sells sweet cakes and pastries, making it a fairly comprehensive confectionery shop.
Grandma Guo listened to him and nodded repeatedly.
Guo Xiaohua sat on the other side of the table, holding her head in her hands, straining to hear what her family was saying.
As I listened, I couldn't help but drool as the prince recited the menu.
Items like sugar-coated glutinous rice balls, sugar bean porridge, various kinds of candied fruits, almond milk, honey cake, preserved plum water, ginger honey water, and sweet bean soup are all common types found in confectionery shops today.
He didn't think that just because he was a newcomer to the field, he could necessarily cook better food than shops that had been around for decades.
So what he'd like to try are things that aren't currently sold in the store.
As for what exactly their own confectionery shop will sell...
Guo Baiwen had his own ideas, after all, he had plenty of different kinds of sugar and honey on hand.
He might not be able to make as many complicated desserts as those established brands.
However, in my previous life, we lived during an era of information overload. Even though some of the production methods were the same, there were still many sweets that could only be made delicious with high-purity sugar.
Guo Baiwen was betting on the quality of the sugar he used at home.
Whether it's brown sugar, rock sugar, white sugar, or honey, none of the products from this system are of poor quality.
Moreover, because the raw material supply was taken care of by the check-in system, the cost of his attempt to open a store was reduced significantly.
Only then do we have the confidence to compare ourselves with other pastry shops in the county.
Like the honeycomb caramel crisps he tried making at home before, the ingredients only require white sugar, water, and baking soda, and they didn't look particularly pretty. But they were crispy and delicious, making them perfect as a signature dessert for their confectionery shop.
Moreover, the timing of this process is crucial. If you don't get the timing of using baking soda and the amount of other ingredients right, the caramel crisps can easily become bitter and unpalatable.
Besides caramel crisps, other treats like milk dates don't require an oven or anything. All you need is sugar, marshmallows, butter, and milk powder to make them delicious.
Even for something like crème brûlée, which only requires boiling, sieving, and steaming, although milk is needed, milk powder should be able to replace milk and you could try making it.
If it tastes good, it can be sold in the store as a signature item.
Guo Baiwen can do all three of these things.
"When I have some free time tomorrow, I'll make some for you to try!"
Guo Xiaohua's face lit up with joy upon hearing this. Before she could even lower her hands from her face, she was already nodding repeatedly, saying, "Okay, okay, okay!"
As for the more common mung bean paste, brown sugar fermented rice balls, sweet bean porridge, and rock sugar pear soup—Grandma Guo raised her hand to say that she could make all of these herself.
Moreover, cooled sweet porridge or soup tastes even better when eaten in warmer weather than when it's freshly cooked.
There were also the fruit cans he kept in the pine box. Although there weren't many of these metal cans, he only needed to scoop out a spoonful or two of fruit pieces and syrup, then mix it with his homemade large cup of honey and cold water to make a large cup.
Based on his current inventory, it should last at least a month.
Even if you can't get the sign-in bonus in the future, you can just buy seasonal fruits and preserve them in sugar.
A cup of this fruit and honey syrup costs only five coins, and I think quite a few people will buy it.
You can also sell some cheap licorice-infused chilled water. Just boil the licorice in water, then chill it in well water.
This common type of sweet soup, like sour plum drink, is inexpensive; a bowl can be sold for a penny or two on the street.
Speaking of which, he also has a big bottle of those instant plum syrups. He plans to mix them with his homemade 50/50 syrup, and it might even taste better than the original.
In the sweltering summer, these refreshing and convenient treats are a rare treat these days, and I imagine there will be quite a few customers coming to my door.
It would be even better if we could get some ice.
Unfortunately, although there was a refrigerator in his room, it was only for show and not for use.
He remembered that when he was in school, he seemed to have learned how to make ice with saltpeter, but he had long forgotten the specific process and what was needed.
We'll just have to see if we can buy some natural ice from somewhere later.
But it's okay if you can't buy them, since the candy shop only does business in the summer and autumn, and what they have now is enough.
He had only planned it out for himself, but as he counted, not counting the various canned fruits, the candy shop now had ten items that could be properly sold and listed on the menu without him even realizing it.
For their small shop, having so many different kinds of products already counts as a wide variety.
As Grandma Guo listened to him, she also carefully considered the situation on the table with her fingers, concluding that the business should be viable. However, she couldn't help but worry and reminded him, "What about the spicy hot pot we sold before?"
Putting aside everything else, that huge signboard is still hanging above the entrance of their own shop.
Should we get another one?
Not to mention that this is another sudden expense, I'm afraid we'll lose our regular customers.
Guo Baiwen waved his hand, gesturing with his fingers in the air as he explained, "It's alright, I'll just have someone make a piece of cloth to hang under the signboard in front of the store, indicating that our shop is a summer and autumn specialty store that also sells sweets."
It seems that all the plans and considerations have been made.
As for the rest, there's no point in thinking about it any further. After all, even if the new sugar food business is doing poorly, can it be worse than a hot pot restaurant closing down for the holidays?
...Won't we end up not being able to sell them and starting to lose money?
Grandma Guo thought about it for a while, then exchanged a glance with Guo Xiaohua, and immediately made a decision: "Tomorrow, you make those things first so that Xiaohua and I can try them. If they're delicious, then it's settled for now!"
"That's easy," Guo Baiwen nodded and agreed immediately.
Ultimately, the quality of the ingredients and the taste of the food are the most important factors in whether this business can be successful.
Although the business of this new store has only just begun to take off.
But seeing that the problem that had been bothering him for several months was finally resolved, Guo Baiwen finally relaxed.
The next moment, he heard Grandma Guo ask him, "By the way, Wenzai—"
"Hmm?" Guo Baiwen was calculating what he needed to buy to open a confectionery shop. He looked up at her while writing and drawing. "What's wrong, Grandma?"
Guo Xiaohua glanced at the old woman sitting to the side, and seeing that she hadn't spoken yet, she simply coughed.
Seeing that her cough had successfully attracted her brother's attention, she gave a playful smile. "Grandma wanted to ask you when you're planning to go to school!"
"ah?!"
Guo Baiwen's pen suddenly stopped, and he drew a large blob of ink on the paper.
His expression was somewhat surprised, clearly he had forgotten about it. "Grandma?"
"When you're making things tomorrow, Grandma and Xiaohua can learn along with you. That way, you won't have to worry too much about the business in this shop, because Grandma and Xiaohua will take care of it!"
Guo Xiaohua chimed in, "That's right, now I only need to go to Lin Niangzi's house for half a day, anyway, these things need to be cooled down after they're made in the morning."
“I get up early in the summer, and I can finish my work in the morning and then go to Madam Lin’s house in time!”
After making these confident statements, she revealed her true purpose: "I know that you've been putting off going to school, but look at me, aren't I doing very well with Madam Lin now?"
She assumed that Guo Baiwen was like her before, always making excuses to procrastinate because he refused to study.
These words made Guo Baiwen laugh.
He grinned broadly at Guo Xiaohua, "You think everyone is like you?"
He's not like those kids in my past life who wanted to skip school. He's this age, how could he still hate school!
But clearly, Guo Xiaohua wasn't the only one with this idea. Grandma Guo comforted her, "I know you're smart, Wenzai, but you promised Grandma before, we should still go to school."
Why are they all treating him like a child, trying to coax him?
Just now, when the two of them were eagerly waiting for him to come up with ideas, it wasn't like this at all.
Guo Baiwen touched it a little embarrassedly. Although he felt strange, he still nodded obediently and agreed, "I understand."
"After I've taught you, I'll go to school."
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