Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Leaving Lin Qiuran lowered his head, "I...
The kitchen was lit with candles. Lin Qiuran turned around and looked over. Chen Cang had a fawning look on his face. She seemed puzzled and asked, "Buy spices?"
Chen Cang laughed dryly. "My cooking skills are far inferior to Madam Lin's. Even if I buy these spices, the dishes I make won't compare to Madam Lin's. I just thought that if any of the adults come to Yu'an County in the future, the dishes they eat will taste better, which will also show that our Yu'an County is a thoughtful hospitality."
Chen Cang wanted to reassure Lin Qiuran, so he bought spices just for the job at the post station, but he still couldn't compete with her, let alone steal Lin Qiuran's job.
The rest of the sentence was from Lin Qiuran that day, and Chen Cang repeated it. He was afraid that Lin Qiuran wouldn't be happy to sell it, as he had already said it was a secret family recipe, so he was making a big deal about it. Besides, he was only buying the seasoning, not the house, so Lin Qiuran couldn't be too stingy.
Sun remained silent, but her heart was already in turmoil. My God, who would have thought that the spices she prepared could be sold for money!
This can all make money.
Lin Qiuran thought for a moment and then said in a timid tone, "Brother Chen, this is my family's secret recipe. Someone asked me to buy it before, but I never agreed."
Chen Cang was anxious, "Madam Lin!"
Lin Qiuran changed the subject, "But Brother Chen also said that Yu'an County should be the most important thing in everything. I want to sell it to him so that these spices can be put to good use. I think Brother Chen should also know that spices are not cheap. It cost a lot to buy them. This jar costs five cents of silver. If Brother Chen wants to buy it, I can give you a discount of twenty cents. Any lower will not work."
Lin Qiuran thought carefully about the pricing of spices. Spices are expensive to begin with. Ordinary people only need to buy some star anise and cinnamon for cooking, and the rest are not used on daily basis.
If Lin Qiuran hadn't been planning a banquet, she wouldn't have been willing to spend so much money on spices, so even if she set the price at two cents, she wouldn't make a penny, and she still wouldn't be able to afford what she couldn't afford.
This thing is not for ordinary people. They can't even get enough to eat, so who would think about making the food taste good?
Therefore, it would be better to price it higher and sell it specifically to the chefs and maids in the various prefectures. If they found it useful, they would probably pay for it. Take Chencang for example, the county paid for the daily purchases. He spent five cents of silver to buy Thirteen Spices. It was expensive, but he didn't have to pay for it himself.
Other houses also have people in charge of purchasing, so it’s not that they can’t afford to buy a jar of spices. This one can be used for a long time.
Five cents is not cheap, but Lin Qiuran only makes three cents. For Chen Cang, at most he makes a little less money, but the food he cooks tastes good, so he can continue to work.
It depends on which one he is willing to choose between immediate interests and long-term considerations.
Lin Qiuran had also told Chen Cang in advance that he would give a twenty-cent discount on the family secret recipe, so Chen Cang couldn't lower the price any further.
Lin Qiuran: "Here are two jars. One uses more spices, the other uses less. The other one is cheaper, two coins."
There are three kinds of mushrooms and two kinds of spices in it, which were also prepared by Lin Qiuran. Salt and sugar are added to enhance the flavor. All the dried goods are ground into powder and can be stored for a long time.
It's certainly possible to make it yourself, but the taste will be different for each person. Lin Qiuran improved it according to the recipe of later generations, so it's incomparable.
Chen Cang is older than Lin Qiuran, so how could he not understand the meaning of her words? He had already given her a discount, and if he bargained further, it would be ignorant of his conscience, and he would not agree to it.
The price was indeed high, but if it tasted good, Chen Cang was willing to give it a try. He gritted his teeth and said, "Okay."
Lin Qiuran said, "Give me half of the deposit first. I'll make the spices for Brother Chen tomorrow morning, and he can try the flavor. Oh, by the way, my mother said something happened back home the day after tomorrow, so I have to tell the county magistrate that I won't be making them the day after tomorrow."
Chen Cang was stunned at first, then he breathed a sigh of relief, but then he felt that it was inappropriate to breathe a sigh of relief, and his tone immediately became more concerned. "But if there is anything difficult at home, just tell me directly. We are acquaintances, so don't be polite."
Lin Qiuran smiled and shook his head, "It's not a big deal, but we have to go back."
Chen Cang said, "If you need me, just let me know!"
Lin Qiuran nodded and returned to the house with Sun.
Sun couldn't help but ask: "Qiuran, aren't you going to work anymore? Why do you want to go home? Everything is fine at home."
How come Sun didn’t know that something happened at home?
Lin Qiuran said, "Mother, I don't think I can do it. I'll work for three days, and I'll get four coins of silver a day, which is one ounce and two coins for three days. Although it's cheaper for County Magistrate Li than treating guests at a restaurant, it's still much more expensive than in Chencang. If Lord Zhao and the others don't leave, how will the county have enough money to pay me? Either reduce the wages in the end, or let me stay here and take over Chencang's work."
Lin Qiuran refused to accept the reduced wages. Cooking three meals a day was less laborious than cooking fish. Moreover, if she surrendered, Magistrate Li would have to pay her the lower wages if he invited her to a banquet. Magistrate Li was an official, and she was a commoner, so it would be difficult to refuse. Staying here was out of the question; it was stable, but the pay was a fraction of a penny less. It would be better for her to leave on her own initiative.
Even if something happens at home, I won’t stop you.
Lin Qiuran was content to earn so much from the post station.
Sun nodded. She didn't think as much as Lin Qiuran did. She listened to Lin Qiuran and said, "We can sell the spices and go back."
Don't be too greedy.
Lin Qiuran smiled and said, "Mom, go buy the spices tomorrow morning, the ones I mentioned."
Lin Qiuran bought the same weight of each spice to prevent others from figuring out the recipe. She asked Sun to buy a few more spices she wouldn't need to conceal her intentions, fearing Chen Cang might follow her.
Chen Cang ordered two cans and paid half as a deposit. He had to pay the deposit, otherwise he would suddenly regret it and end up with something he couldn't sell.
The next day.
Lin Qiuran made plain noodles for the adults this morning. After all, they had eaten quite a bit the night before. If they eat well every time, they won't think the food is delicious anymore, but will become accustomed to it. Sometimes, it's not the food you blame, but your picky mouth you blame.
The noodles are light and refreshing, with vegetables and eggs, and are also suitable for breakfast.
After dinner, Lin Qiuran saw Wang Zhubu coming. Wang Zhubu first gave her four taels of silver and said, "Madam Lin, this is your wages for today."
Lin Qiuran accepted the silver. Seeing that Wang Zhubu was not in a hurry to leave, she asked first, "Did the adults say when they would leave?"
Anchor Wang shook his head. "That's not impossible, but it will probably take another two or three days."
Lin Qiuran smiled faintly, "Sir, I've been cooking here for two days. Yesterday, my mother came home and told me something happened at home, so I have to go back tomorrow. However, Brother Chen has already bought my family's secret recipe and spices. I think the food he cooks will taste even better. You don't have to worry about the prefect."
The taste will probably be a little worse, but it’s a home-cooked meal, so even if Lord Zhao tastes it, he won’t get angry.
Wang Zhubu was stunned. He didn't expect that Lin Qiuran said he wanted to go back before he even mentioned the matter of letting him stay at the post station.
He frowned and asked, "But what's the urgent matter at home?"
Lin Qiuran said, "It's not a big deal, but we have to go back."
Wang Zhubu nodded and didn't ask any more questions. "Madam Lin, you've been cooking for the past two days, and you can see that the work at the post station is not easy. Not every day there are adults coming. There are empty rooms at the post station for you to stay in. When you have nothing to do on weekdays, no one will bother you. Have you ever thought about staying at the post station to cook?"
Lin Qiuran lowered her head. "I'm just a country woman. How could I have such a good fortune to cook for you? Besides, my parents are old. I really can't bear to leave them alone in the village."
Wang Zhubu sighed, "Okay, I'll talk to Lord Li. Once we're done today, you can return tomorrow morning."
Lin Qiuran felt that Wang Zhubu was a nice and upright person. Although his wife deliberately made things difficult for him, he still spoke up for her and even found him a job at the post station.
After sending Wang Zhubu away, Lin Qiuran went to the kitchen. As the saying goes, you have to work hard every day. She had already received today's wages, so of course she had to work hard.
She asked Chen Cang to buy two chickens and two pounds of pork ribs. With so many people, one chicken would definitely not be enough. Stewing the meat would be more fragrant with pork. She planned to make a pot of stew at noon, add beans and potatoes as side dishes, make some flatbreads on top, and steam a little rice. It should be enough.
I ate a lot of rice yesterday, so it turns out that adding a little glutinous rice really tastes good.
Sun went to buy spices, and Chen Cang helped to kill chickens, peel garlic, wash and cut vegetables.
Chop the chicken into small pieces to make it easier to absorb the flavor, and the same goes for the ribs.
After blanching, stir-fry the sugar color, then add seasonings, onions, ginger, garlic, spices such as bay leaves, cinnamon, star anise, and a little thirteen spices. After stir-frying evenly, pour in boiling water and simmer slowly.
Lin Qiuran made unleavened pancakes. When the water boiled again, he rolled out the dough, stretched it and covered the pancakes. After a long time, the pancakes would be cooked through and soaked with the flavor of the soup base. They would not be boiled. On the contrary, as the soup on top became less and less, the pancakes became chewy and had the aroma of pork and chicken fat, which was endless aftertaste.
Lin Qiuran had also added dried hawthorn, which Chen Cang hadn't noticed, and she wasn't going to tell anyone. Everyone has their own secret recipes, and who knows, maybe Chen Cang has his own cooking tips. The two of them weren't even related, so Lin Qiuran would be a fool to tell him everything.
This dish needed to be simmered over low heat. Lin Qiuran also prepared two cold dishes. While waiting for Sun to return, she took a stone mortar from the kitchen and went back to the house to grind the spices. In just over half a minute, the spices were ground and all packed into jars.
Lin Qiuran took the jar to the kitchen and said, "Brother Chen, the spices are ready. Look, they are full."
Chen Cang looked and said, "It's quite a lot."
Lin Qiuran: "Try what's in here and compare it to what I made before. Does it taste the same?"
Chen Cang tasted them carefully and found that they tasted the same, so he paid the remaining money and asked Lin Qiuran how to use them.
Lin Qiuran pointed at the Thirteen Spices and said, "This one is mostly used for marinating meat and stewing to enhance the flavor and remove the fishy smell. The other one is often used in stir-fries to enhance the flavor. But what's more important is the knife skills and the heat. Although spices are good, they can't be used too much, otherwise the spice flavor will be too strong and will cover the original flavor of the ingredients."
That would be putting the cart before the horse, and it wouldn't taste good.
Chen Cang nodded. "Okay, I'll remember that. If these two bottles are used up, I'll buy more from Madam Lin. The price will be cheaper."
Lin Qiuran, "Okay, if anyone wants to buy spices from Brother Chen, I'll give him ten cents for every jar he sells."
She didn't want Chen Cang's help for nothing, the more the better.
Selling spices was definitely more profitable than cooking, and it was also easier. The spices sold to Chencang cost 280 wen, counting two jars. They sold for a total of 670 qian. At a price of 102 copper coins per qian today, I made 402 wen, almost 4 qian of silver.
Lin Qiuran earned this much by cooking for a day at the post station.
It’s just that not everyone can use it, and not everyone can afford it, otherwise people would definitely make a lot of money.
Chen Cang nodded, but then he realized, didn't Lin Qiuran say yesterday that he wouldn't sell outside? This guy is really...
When the time came, Lin Qiuran opened the pot. There was still some broth left, so she asked Chen Cang to turn up the heat and simmer it. The aroma was quite rich. Before serving, she added a handful of minced garlic and scallions to enhance the flavor. Chen Cang, sniffing the aroma nearby, couldn't help but sigh that Lin Qiuran had something special.
He found two large basins and filled them, picked out the bread and put it in bowls, and served them all. There was still some left in the pot, so they could have enough for lunch.
Chicken stew is chicken stew, and pork ribs stew is pork ribs stew. These people had never seen them stewed together before. But they loved to eat so much that even Zhao Jinshan, who said he didn't like big fish or meat, wouldn't have said anything about it. After all, they had just had clear soup noodles for breakfast, so a better lunch wouldn't hurt.
After eating, Zhao Jinshan drank a cup of sour plum soup and said, "No need to bother tomorrow, it's better to keep it simple."
Magistrate Li thought to himself that tomorrow would be simple. He looked at the empty basins and bowls and replied with a smile, "Yes, but since your Excellency has been here for a few days, I should also show my hospitality. Besides, there are so many people, and there are many vegetables among the meat. It's just ordinary chicken, which we bought and cooked ourselves at the post station. It's not as expensive as going to a restaurant."
County Magistrate Li had eaten quite a bit, but he still felt it was a pity. It would have been nice if Lin Qiuran could stay at the post station, but she didn't want to, and he couldn't force her to stay.
County Magistrate Li ordered a simple dinner, so Lin Qiuran cooked porridge, some cold dishes and salted duck eggs, and Lord Zhao was very happy with the meal.
The next morning, Sun cleaned the house carefully. Lin Qiuran packed up his things and got up early with the money he had earned in the past few days, a total of one tael and six cents, and followed Sun back to Xiaojia Village.
The two of them walked back because the ox cart would not return to the village until the afternoon. After walking for a while, Sun asked Lin Qiuran to rest for a while, fearing that she would be tired.
The post station was in the north of the city, and Xiaojia Village had to go through the south city gate. The two of them first arrived at South Street, and before they had breakfast, they bought something to eat on the street.
Lin Qiuran ordered a bowl of soy milk, a fried dough stick and a tea egg, while Sun ordered a fried dough stick and finally drank the soy milk that Lin Qiuran had not finished.
Wanting to finish her meal, Sun bought a steamed bun and a tea egg for Lin Qiuran to eat on the way. The two of them sat for a while, planning to return to the village soon. After being away for several days, no matter how good the place was, it couldn't compare to home.
But before the two of them stood up, a man stood in front of Lin Qiuran.
Lin Qiuran frowned and looked up. The man in front of her was tall, square-faced, and dressed in a blue gown. He was Ya Ji, who had shown them around the house that day. She was stunned for a moment, "You..."
"Mrs. Lin, you've given me such a hard time finding you! Didn't you say your family sells fish on Chengnan Street? I've been looking for you for two days and I can't find you!"
The author has something to say:
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It’s the last day of the month, please give me some nutrient solution! [Cat head][Panda head]
Happy Dragon Boat Festival! I'll take a day off tomorrow for Dragon Boat Festival [Come on][Come on][Come on] Thank you all for the nutrient solution [Come on][Come on][Come on]
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