Chapter 062 Bakery Opening

When the children saw the two men appearing before them, they were stunned at first, then seemed to remember something, looked at each other to confirm their expressions, and then knelt down in unison.

"Your humble servants pay homage to His Majesty. Long live the emperor." The voices of a group of children were mixed. It didn't sound like they were paying homage to the emperor, but more like they were playing house.

Zong Zhengxiao raised his hand to call them to stand up. Rong Yin asked curiously, "Hey, were you among the tenants who were worshipping this morning? Why did I feel like I didn't see you?"

The children must have seen him and Zong Zheng Xiao this morning, otherwise how would they know that Zong Zheng Xiao was the emperor.

A brave little girl among them answered, "Yes, but we girls were asked to stand at the back and were blocked by the adults, so you didn't see it."

"So that's how it is."

Seeing that the little girl spoke clearly and was not afraid of people, Rong Yin started chatting with her.

"Are you going to the mountains to pick wild vegetables?"

The little girl nodded and showed the bamboo basket to Rong Yin: "Yes, these are all the most delicious wild vegetables of this season."

Rong Yin didn’t know the names of these wild vegetables, but they looked juicy and tender, so they should taste good.

Zong Zhengxiao saw Rong Yin staring at the basket, so he asked the girl, "Are there still some of these wild vegetables you picked on the mountain?"

The little girl nodded but said nothing. Although Zong Zhengxiao looked very kind, the girls were still more afraid of him than Rong Yin.

Zong Zhengxiao asked Rong Yin: "Do you want to eat wild vegetables today?"

"Ah?" Rong Yin was stunned for a moment, then responded and said, "Are you going to take me to pick wild vegetables?"

Zong Zhengxiao answered him directly with action. He took out a few pieces of silver from his wallet and handed them to the little girl: "I want the wild vegetables in your basket. Divide the silver among you."

Rong Yin: ...So you want to buy it directly.

Who would have thought that after hearing what Zong Zhengxiao said, the little girl shook her head. They handed the bamboo basket to Rong Yin and said, "If you like to eat wild vegetables, these are all for you."

Rong Yin quickly waved her hands: "No, no, how can we take your things for free?"

"It's not for free." The little girl smiled and narrowed her eyes, saying, "My parents said that with the new fertilizer this year, the crops are growing well and the harvest is good, so we will get more food and we won't have to go hungry anymore. The steward also gave us some meat a few days ago, and it was very delicious. The steward said that the fertilizer and meat were given by the emperor, and we should be grateful for his grace. So these are just some wild vegetables, so you don't have to be polite, Your Majesty and the nobles."

After hearing the little girl's words, Zong Zheng Xiao's originally calm eyes became more turbulent.

He asked Rong Yin for advice on how to make the country strong and rich. Wasn't this what he wanted? Everyone could have enough food and warm clothes, and smile happily every day.

He took the basket from the little girl, stroked her head, and praised her in the tone of an elder to a younger person: "You are a smart child. You will become a great person in the future."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The little girl smiled even more brilliantly.

Seeing this, several other shy children quietly moved over, handed over their baskets, and then looked at Zong Zheng Xiao eagerly.

So in the end, Zong Zhengxiao touched the heads of the children one by one and harvested several baskets of wild vegetables.

The children insisted not to take the money, and ran away happily with their hands covering their heads. When they got back, they showed off everywhere. The emperor touched their heads and said that they would all have great prospects when they grew up. Let's see if those boys dared to bully them in the future.

At first, the family did not believe what they said, thinking that they were in collusion to deceive people. But later, the steward personally sent silver to them, saying that the wild vegetables picked by the girls were deeply loved by His Majesty and the nobles, and the silver was a reward for them.

After receiving the money in person, the family members finally believed that the girls in their family were really favored by the emperor.

Maybe it was really the emperor's blessing, or maybe the girls were naturally capable, or maybe the two helped each other, but a few years later, no matter which path they chose, the girls who had met Zong Zhengxiao and Rong Yin that day had a smooth life and lived a stable and happy life.

But these are all stories for the future. At this time, Rong Yin and Zong Zhengxiao watched the little girls leave happily and had no intention of continuing to wander around. They carried the basket back to the farm together and asked the chef to add wild vegetables to the lunch menu.

Interestingly, Rong Yin also found a very interesting vegetable that he happened to know among the wild vegetables - Houttuynia cordata.

This thing was hidden under other wild vegetables before, and he didn't see it at first.

This vegetable is like coriander. Those who love it regard it as a delicacy, while those who hate it would like to stay eight hundred meters away from it.

What’s even more coincidental is that Rong Yin likes to eat Houttuynia cordata, while Zong Zhengxiao hates it to death.

So during lunch, Rong Yin deliberately forced Zong Zhengxiao to eat cold houttuynia cordata. Seeing his brows wrinkled so much after taking a bite that they could kill a mosquito, Rong Yin laughed until tears came out.

Zong Zheng Xiao swallowed the houttuynia with all his might, looking serious and solemn as if he was discussing some national affairs: "I hate this taste."

Rong Yin said in a sly voice, "What can I do? I love eating this. I'm going to eat it every day. I'll see if you can still kiss me then."

Zong Zhengxiao was very calm: "I'll go to the kitchen in the middle of the night and throw away all your Houttuynia cordata."

Rong Yin bared his teeth: "You are so mean."

Zong Zheng Xiao looked at him: "Same here."

Because there were many tenants, five acres of wheat were harvested and threshed in the morning. However, they still needed to be dried in the sun for a few days, crushed and husked, and finally weighed to see how much pure yield per acre was.

There will be no results today, but when Zong Zhengxiao sees those full ears of wheat, he knows that the fertilizer is quite effective.

The steward also said honestly: "Your Majesty, I have been on the farm for more than ten years, and this is the first time I have seen crops growing so well. Just look at the amount of wheat after threshing. I dare to guarantee that the yield per acre has at least doubled."

Upon hearing this, Zong Zheng Xiao looked up at the fields in the distance, as if he saw the prosperous future of Dasheng.

He said: "As soon as the results come out, report to me immediately. The other crops that have been fertilized with the new fertilizer must also be taken good care of."

"Yes, I will definitely live up to your trust."

The next day after returning to the palace, Rong Yin did not check on the decoration, but instead went straight into the kitchen.

He did not ask anyone to come in to help, and no one knew what he was doing in the kitchen alone. The palace servants only knew that he had ordered people to bring in a lot of fresh milk, tea, and sugar.

Before long, a sweet aroma wafted from the kitchen, with a hint of tea aroma.

The palace servants swallowed their saliva, it seemed that they had something new to eat.

When Zong Zhengxiao returned to Yinjiao Garden, Rong Yin had already prepared a table of milk tea for him.

Zong Zhengxiao looked at the strange drink on the table and asked curiously, "What is this?"

Rong Yin held a notebook in his left hand and a pen in his right hand, and said, "This is the milk tea I made. The main raw materials are milk, sugar, and tea leaves. The ratio of the three ingredients is different, and the taste is also different. Can you help me try which flavor is most suitable for the public, and I will make a statistics."

Zong Zhengxiao understood that, apart from him, everyone else in Yin Jiao Garden must also be included in Rong Yin's statistics, so he did not refuse and sat down to help him taste it carefully.

Based on everyone's suggestions, Rong Yin finally made a summary and found that 70% sweetness is indeed the sweetness that most people can accept.

Zong Zhengxiao asked him, "Is this the milk tea you want to sell in your store?"

Rong Yin said, "I have opened an afternoon tea business on the second floor of the bakery. I plan to sell milk tea there for trial sale. If the customers respond well, I will open another store to sell it. Then I will develop more flavors of milk tea and try fruit tea. We also have ice, and iced drinks are hot sellers in the summer."

"Just get the ice from Ji's ice shop." Zong Zhengxiao said, "It's our shop anyway."

Rong Yin nodded: "This way the price can be lower and the consumer group can be expanded."

So, that evening, after waiting in vain for the bakery to open, the royal family, including the Zhou family, received a new drink from Zong Zhengxiao - sweet iced milk tea.

They can still only taste the fresh portion, and they are still invited to come and support us when the time comes.

Once again, the people who were captivated by milk tea were angry: You want our support! Why don’t you open a store soon! You’re just keeping us hanging!

Because of everyone's complaints, Zong Zhengxiao's ears got burned again that night, and when he went to court the next day, he was stared at with resentful eyes by the ministers.

This situation left the aristocratic families confused. When did the little emperor fall out with these guys?

Finally, amidst the anticipation of many people... well, the anticipation of those who had tried the bread biscuits and milk tea, Rong Yin's bakery opened.

The words on the shop sign were written by the Emperor himself at the cost of a kiss. When he heard that the name of Rong Yin's shop was "Yun Duo Bakery", Zong Zheng Xiao's mouth twitched and he sighed: "Our Ah Yin has always been unique in naming."

"Woof woof!" Xiao Ai agreed.

On the morning of the opening day, not only did the Zhou family come early to show their support, but some passers-by also gathered around in advance, wanting to see what kind of delicious food this store was selling.

It was simple. They saw the store when it was being renovated. Later, the store was closed and no one knew what was being cooked in the back kitchen. The aroma wafted throughout the street, making people drool.

Especially for children who like sweet smells, they can tell that this store must sell cakes as soon as they smell it, and they have never smelled this kind of fragrance before, which means it is new cakes.

The children were so excited that they couldn't sleep, so when they heard the news of the opening, they hurriedly dragged their parents over.

To their surprise, as soon as they arrived, they saw many horse-drawn carriages parked not far from the shop. It seemed that they were also visiting the shop. From time to time, a maid would lift the curtain and look anxiously towards the shop door.

這京城裏坐得起馬車的，最起碼都是個官，這麽多官兒都聚集在這裏，這家店到底有什麽來頭？

人群中有人道：“上次這麽熱鬧，還是季家冰鋪開業的時候，而且那時也只有各府的丫鬟小厮或者管事來。”

可這次不同，馬車裏坐的都是各府的主子。

莫非這家店賣的點心，比冰還稀奇不成？

想通其中關節的人開始躍躍欲試了，不管裏面賣的什麽，哪怕只有空氣，他們也得進去聞聞。

這回倒真是萬衆期待了。

眼看氛圍差不多了，位于二樓窗邊的戎音示意夥計可以開張了。

看着大門被拉開，人群瞬間喧嘩起來，都下意識往前擠。

今天負責主持大局的是一位資歷頗深的掌櫃，戎音花重金聘請來的，他和宗政逍不好出面應付這些，最好就是交給下面的人，他們只負責收錢。

掌櫃一走出去，人群就鬧開了。

“掌櫃的，你們店裏到底賣的是什麽啊？味道也忒香了，饞得我流了幾天的口水。”

衆人聞言哄笑。

掌櫃的做了個稍安勿躁的手勢，伸手将大門頂上的紅綢拉下，嘩啦一聲，金燦燦的“雲朵面包店”幾個字就出現在了衆人的視野之中。

有識字的在跟其他人解釋這是哪幾個字。

同時，掌櫃身邊走出兩個夥計，手裏端着面包和餅幹，把托盤微微傾斜，将裏面的點心展示給衆人看。

掌櫃道：“這便是本店目前售賣的點心，雲朵面包和牛乳餅幹，面包的口感暄軟，如同天上的雲朵，餅幹香脆，唇齒留香。”

說完，看群衆已經饞得不行的樣子，掌櫃也不再啰嗦，直接道：“本店開張第一天，所有點心一律八折，消費滿十兩，就送限量冰飲奶茶一杯，先到先得！”

衆人其實沒搞明白掌櫃說的是面包、餅幹和奶茶是什麽，但聽見打折和贈送，他們便下意識叫好，并在掌櫃讓開後，齊齊沖進了店裏消費。

店鋪面積再大，也擠不下這麽多人，于是掌櫃讓夥計組織客人排隊，一批一批放進去。

餅幹用油紙折的盒子裝，一盒十文，總共二十片。

面包要貴些，掌心大的一塊三十文，抹了果醬的貴五文，以後等奶油出來了，價格會再提升一些。

今天開張打折，再加上想嘗個鮮，所以進去的人起碼都會買一盒餅幹。

有些心急的，付完錢出了門就開始吃，特別是孩子們。

還在排隊的客人正想問他們味道怎麽樣，孩子們就先叫開了。

“哇，好軟好香，這個餅幹也好好吃！ 爹，我們再去賣一點好不好？”

“娘，抹了果醬的面包更甜了，我們帶點回去給爹和小妹吧。”

“真的像雲一樣軟，跟我之前吃過的糕點都不一樣。”

這種時候，小孩子不會撒謊，更何況說話的孩子裏還有大家都認識的，街坊鄰居，誰不知道誰，他們也不可能是托。

所以他們這個隊是排對了，待會兒進去得多買點，沒看見那些出來的都後悔沒有多買，要重新排隊了嗎？

沒過一會兒，第一個消費滿十兩，拿到奶茶的人出現了。

店員還很誇張地沖外面大喊，某某今日在店內消費多少兩，獲得贈品多冰奶茶一杯。

在現代一杯飲品多冰會被顧客噴得狗血淋頭，但在這個時代不一樣，雖然季家出售低價冰，但這畢竟還是要錢的東西。

這杯奶茶既有新飲品又有很多冰，可以說是耀眼的豪華飲料了。

拿着奶茶走出店門的人跟接受百官朝拜的皇帝似的，下巴都快擡到天上去了。

有認識他的人，讓他快喝口奶茶，告訴大家味道好不好？

這人存着顯擺的心思，低頭喝口奶茶的時候，想的是無論味道如何自己都要大肆誇獎一番，不然要是承認不好喝，自己肯定會被笑話是冤大頭。

結果他喝完第一口，頭就沒從杯子裏擡起來過，轉瞬間滿滿一竹筒的奶茶就被他喝了大半。

要他評價的人：“……”

得了，不用問了，肯定好喝。

只是奶茶要消費滿十兩才能得一杯，大多數客人買肯定是舍不得買的，最多看別人喝，解解眼饞。

忙着排隊的客人們沒注意到，面包店四周的馬車不知何時都停到了一處去，并且裏面坐着的人也不見了，只剩看車的馬夫圍在一起聊天。

二樓，各府女眷因為互相認識，也沒分開坐，全都聚集在了一處。

這店的隔音做得不錯，樓下雖然熱鬧，但關上門後，基本打擾不到她們交談。

而且二樓的裝修風格溫柔雅致，牆上的挂畫和瓶中的鮮花，就連鋪桌子的桌布，都是偏淡色類的，将清冷的逼格直接拉滿。

綠娥帶着幾個宮女給夫人小姐們上了點心和奶茶，每人的分量都是一樣的，并不厚此薄彼。

因為二樓主要招待女客，所以肯定不能用男夥計，戎音就讓綠娥來打第二份工，幫他管理二樓下午茶的事宜。

夫人們都知道綠娥的身份，她雖然只是個宮女，但卻是那位貴人身邊的得力幹将，能受她服侍一回，也算是沾上了貴人和皇上的福氣。

看見戎音居然那麽重視她們這第一批客人，夫人小姐們心裏都很是傲氣和欣慰，想着走之前，一定要在店裏多多消費。

官家女眷們本就喜歡聚在一處吃茶閑聊，就像男人們都愛稱兄道弟喝酒吹牛一樣，這是女人們的社交。

戎音的下午茶模式，正好迎合了她們的喜好。

早就嘗過皇上送到各府的面包餅幹和奶茶，衆人自然是知道這些美食的滋味有多好，因此也顧不上說話聯絡感情，先品嘗起了點心來。

她們并不知道，戎音和宗政逍就在她們隔壁又隔壁的房間，他們倆今天是隐藏行蹤出來的，只想看看生意如何，并不想應對那些人情往來。

而且他們兩個男人，也不方便跟那些女眷見面。

聽見綠娥回來禀告，說她們對點心和奶茶都很滿意，并且已經提前預定了幾十兩的量，戎音便開心地笑了起來。

戎音道：“她們喜歡的話，回去後定會幫咱們宣傳的。”

京城裏大多達官顯貴都愛顯擺比較，要麽比貴，要麽比新奇，若是知道最近出現了一種新點心和新飲品，貴婦們肯定會争相前來品嘗。

再加上雲朵面包鋪的點心和奶茶味道确實都不錯，她們便會帶動自己的家人購買，一來二去，錢就賺到了。

“等奶油做出來了，世家那邊的市場應該也打開了，到時候咱們把價格提得高高的，專門坑他們的錢。”戎音暢想着美好未來。

聽見戎音要幫他坑世家，宗政逍也跟着笑了起來：“還是我們阿音厲害，兵不血刃。”

戎音假裝謙虛：“也就一般般厲害。”

面包店生意太火爆，購買了的客人覺得好吃，回去後一傳十，十傳百，再加上京城不缺有錢人，十兩贈品的奶茶都送出去了幾十杯，足可見他們到底買了多少東西。

所以不過兩個時辰，他們準備好的點心和奶茶就全都賣完了。

夥計去告訴門口排隊的人，點心售罄，不要再排隊了時，還引起了許多人的不滿。

不過看不少達官貴人都來這家店消費，衆人也知道人家背後肯定有靠山，所以也只抱怨了幾句，沒敢真的做什麽。

“叫你們老板明天多準備點兒，免得來得晚又沒了。”

“哎哎哎，好好好，謝謝客人您的喜歡和支持。”

女眷們下樓後，知道別人有錢都買不到點心，而她們那份卻是早就準備好的時，心裏的驕傲更盛，感覺走路都帶風。

家裏的爺們和孩子不方便親自去店裏，早就在家等着女眷們回來了，她們剛一進門，身後丫鬟小厮手裏拎着的點心奶茶就被奪走了。

幾十兩的量，硬是被他們吃得半點不剩。

女眷們：“……”

看來明天又要去一趟雲朵面包店了。

晚上，宗政逍和戎音聽着掌櫃算賬，除去原料和人力成本，今天淨賺三百兩。

戎音對這個數還算滿意，相信要不了多久，就能把裝修的錢賺回來了。

回了宮，戎音叫來綠娥，說等面包店穩定下來以後，就交給她和掌櫃幫自己打理，掌櫃主要負責一樓，綠娥負責二樓。

二樓的活比較清閑，等奶茶店開起來，再讓她去管奶茶店。

得到綠娥同意後，戎音道：“累是累了點，但賺的錢更多了，銀鲛園裏一天也沒多少事，你看哪些宮人要是願意，也可以跟你一起去幹活，你合理分配職位就好。”

宮人的月俸有限，也不是每個人都能待在宮裏養老，如果她們到了年紀想離宮回家，身上多揣點着錢，總不是壞事。

綠娥點頭：“好，謝主子信任奴婢，願意把那麽重要的事交給奴婢。”

戎音笑道：“因為你有這個能力，我才願意對你委以重任。”

After Lu'e left, Rong Yin walked back to the bedroom and lay paralyzed in Zong Zheng Xiao's arms like a salted fish.

"I didn't do anything today, why do I feel so tired?"

Zong Zhengxiao said: "You are tired."

"That seems to be the truth." Rong Yin looked up at Zong Zhengxiao and said with a smile, "Your Majesty has comforted me. Let me give you a kiss."

Zong Zheng Xiao leaned down obediently upon hearing that. Rong Yin hooked her arms around his neck, raised her head and pretended to kiss him, but pulled back the moment she was about to touch his lips.

Zong Zhengxiao frowned, lowered his head and took the initiative to kiss Rong Yin, but Rong Yin retreated again.

Zong Zhengxiao gritted his teeth and said, "Rong Yin..."

Having successfully amused the Emperor, Rong Yin was about to laugh, but was caught off guard by Zong Zhengxiao's hand and grabbed Destiny's neck.