Chapter 89 Whose chicken?
On the day when the noodle shop officially opened, Jiang Yanyi still did some publicity. When her antique soup shop opened, she had little funds and could only hire a candied haws seller to promote the business.
Now, with the stable income from the antique soup shop, she can also afford a lion dance team. "Tian Ji" noodle shop was officially renamed "Jiang Ji".
It was a rare day that it was not snowing, so it was not an exaggeration to say that the noodle shop was crowded with people today.
In front of the noodle shop, there was a red paper couplet written by the old scholar. Amid the sound of the lion dance, Bing Shao handed a burning incense stick to Jiang Yanyi: "Boss, light these firecrackers."
Jiang Yanyi was still in mourning, and even on such a day, she was dressed simply. She wore a cherry-colored double-breasted flowered jacket with snow-white rabbit fur at the collar, which made her face look even whiter and her originally overly gorgeous face look more charming.
Jiang Yanyi took it with a smile, covered her ears with one hand, and used the incense stick to light the big red firecrackers hanging on the tall bamboo with the other hand. Amid the "crackling" sound of the firecrackers, the onlookers applauded.
Jiang Yanyi handed the incense to Bing Shao, and said to the people in front of the noodle shop with a smile: "Today Jiang's Noodle Shop officially opened, thank you all for coming to support us, today's noodles, buy five get one free!"
This statement drew another round of applause.
"Manager Jiang, don't talk about the extra, everyone is waiting in line to buy!" Someone in the crowd shouted.
Jiang Yanyi smiled and agreed.
The buy five get one free gift packages were all wrapped in oil paper in advance, and there was an ink-colored ginger flower printed on the paper, with two large characters "Jiang Ji" on it, and a small seal specially used by Jiang Yanyi's shop printed next to it.
The noodles inside were five yuan and two cents and one yuan and one cent.
Many people found this new and beautiful packaging bag novel. Ten cents for a large bag of noodles was enough for two days of meals. Even ordinary families would not be short of this little money. When they heard that a piece of bread would be given as a gift, they were more willing to give it away.
Some customers just wanted to buy some to try it out and only bought one or two pieces of bread. Jiang Yanyi also had them wrapped in oil paper and handed them to the customers with a smile. His service attitude was absolutely impeccable.
Many people bought instant noodles, and the seasoning sauce could be used for both instant noodles and cooking, so it was naturally snapped up. However, because it is made with lard, the cost price is there, so the seasoning sauce can't be much cheaper. Jiang Yanyi set the price at 15 wen per can. After deducting the material cost and labor cost, the profit of selling a can is about 8 wen.
Chu Shubao heard that Jiang Yanyi's noodle shop was opening, so she came to help. She helped Jiang Yanyi collect money. Although she handled copper coins, Chu Shubao was still very happy.
When she had some free time, she said to Jiang Yanyi with a smile on her face: "So this is what it feels like to earn your own money and be a shopkeeper."
Jiang Yanyi had been standing for a long time and his waist was sore. He smiled and asked Chu Shubao: "Are you tired?"
Chu Shubao nodded and shook her head: "It's not very easy, but when I think about the money I earned with my hard work, I'm happy and don't feel that tired."
Speaking of making money, her eyebrows flew up: "By the way, I used all my private money to buy rouge, and I have prepared a batch of the most fashionable styles at the moment, so I don't have to worry about the girls in Xizhou City not buying them."
Jiang Yanyi said: "When you're done, come to my shop and we'll discuss how to display the counter."
Chu Shubao was waiting for her to say this, and she was immediately delighted.
After the busiest period, there weren't many people buying instant noodles. Fortunately, Jiang Yanyi had a second-hand preparation.
She took out the noodles and seasoning sauce, and made a bowl of instant noodles on the street. While shouting that it was ready to eat after just soaking in hot water, she demonstrated on the spot. Pedestrians on the street didn't know much about instant noodles, but when they heard about this magical way of eating and smelled the tempting aroma, they couldn't help but become curious and gathered around to look in.
Once there were crowds of people watching the excitement, passers-by behind would also stop and watch unconsciously. The aroma floating in the air aroused their greed, and they couldn't keep the money in their pockets.
What surprised Jiang Yanyi was that the young master of Tianji also came to support her. After the cause of death of the gambling house's son was found out, the young master of Tianji was released by the government office.
Seeing the noodle shop opening so lively, he cupped his hands to Jiang Yanyi, and couldn't help sighing: "Congratulations to Manager Jiang, congratulations to Manager Jiang, the noodle shop has really come back to life in Manager Jiang's hands. When I was young, my family was at its peak. It's a pity that the foundation of our ancestors was finally destroyed by me."
The injuries on his face from being beaten by the gambling house's son and his men have not healed completely. There are faint bruises on the corners of his eyes and jaw. Even though he is wearing decent clothes, he still looks a bit shabby.
As if realizing that he had said something he shouldn't have, the young master of Tianji smiled guiltily: "Look at my mouth, today is your auspicious day for opening your business, what nonsense am I saying..."
Jiang Yanyi said it was okay, and the young master of Tianji said two more auspicious words, bought five noodles and left, and this episode was over.
The income on the first morning of the noodle shop's opening was considerable. When Jiang Yanyi and Chu Shubao counted the copper plates in the bamboo basket, they almost got blinded by counting. Every time they counted out a thousand coins, they used a rope to string them into a string. In the morning, they earned a total of more than eight thousand coins.
Chu Shubao weighed the heavy money and said with emotion: "It seems that there are many people buying noodles, but if you divide it up, each person only earns a dozen or so coins a day. I think selling rouge is still the best way to make money. The rouge from Baixiang Pavilion in Beijing can sell for more than ten taels of silver for a small box of good quality!"
Jiang Yanyi said: "There are only so many girls who can afford rouge, and even fewer who can afford top-quality rouge, but this noodle is affordable for everyone."
If the country is peaceful and the people are prosperous in the future, and more families can afford rouge, then there will indeed be a huge market. But now many people are still worried about food and shelter, and with limited money, they naturally take care of food and shelter first. Most of the copper coins earned by the noodle shop this morning were bought by the people in the West Market. If the people in the whole city ate instant noodles, the business would be even more impressive.
Moreover, food is eaten for one meal and gone for the next. It is something that must be bought every day, unlike clothes and jewelry, which can be used for a long time after buying once.
Chu Shubao nodded as if she understood.
The employees of the noodle shop cook their own meals after work. Today, Jiang Yanyi was here, so she prepared to cook for them, just as a celebration of the opening of the noodle shop.
She entered the small kitchen used for cooking and found that there were not many dishes, and the seasonings were not as complete as in her antique soup shop.
The waiter in charge of cooking had never seen a boss who would cook for his servants. After Jiang Yanyi entered the kitchen, he was so nervous that he didn't know where to put his hands and feet. He said stiffly: "Boss, we are all rough people. Just make something to eat. Everyone said this morning that it tastes good to boil water and eat instant noodles!"
Jiang Yanyi didn't expect that the ancients couldn't escape the charm of instant noodles. She was young and ignorant. When she ate instant noodles for the first time, she even thought it was a delicacy. Later, she ate it often for a while, so she felt sick of it when she smelled it. But if she didn't eat it for a long time, she would be hungry again.
Jiang Yanyi looked at the ingredients in the kitchen, thought for a moment and said, "Why not make maocai?"
As a Sichuan dish, maocai is not much different from hot pot in terms of cooking method, and is even called "hot pot for one person".
The waiter had never heard of "maocai", but he just thought it was his own short-sightedness and did not raise any questions.
Jiang Yanyi saw that the kitchen had ready-made potatoes and lotus roots, so she asked the waiter to go out and buy some more meat and other vegetables.
While Jiang Yanyi was processing the ingredients, Chu Shubao volunteered to help her.
Chu Shubao had no interest in cooking, but she liked to chat with Jiang Yanyi about topics related to rouge and makeup. The Great Xuan Dynasty regarded thinness as beauty. The weaker the willow, the more pitiful it was. Therefore, most women would highlight a sense of weakness in both appearance and makeup.
Both she and Jiang Yanyi have bright facial features and slender bodies. Unless they dress up deliberately, they will never look frail.
Chu Shubao told Jiang Yanyi about her experiences in the capital: "You don't know that the girls in the capital only use such small bowls to eat..."
She gestured with her hands to Jiang Yanyi and said speechlessly: "I think the small tea bowl I use for tea is bigger than the bowl they use for rice, and the rice in the bowl can only be half full. It's okay at home, but if I attend a banquet, I will be laughed at if I add more rice. I never dare to eat too much at a banquet. I always fill my stomach when I get home, because this "I have been scolded by my mother for eating meat."
Jiang Yanyi washed the lotus root, peeled it and cut it into thin slices. After hearing what Chu Shubao said, she couldn't help but say, "You are at the age of growing up, how can you restrict me from eating meat?"
Chu Shubao seemed to have found an ally and said angrily, "My mother said that I can't get married if I am fat. In order to get married, she doesn't let me eat meat. But I don't want to get married!"
Jiang Yanyi was amused by her and said, "How can you be fat? You are too thin and easy to get sick. Now it's just right. . "
Chu Shubao saw Jiang Yanyi finish processing the lotus root, and picked up the potatoes and handed them to her: "You know my mother's temper. In the capital, if you eat half a bowl of rice, she will scold you for a long time. Fortunately, there are no such rules in Xizhou. I have been in Xizhou for a few days and found that the girls here are all in good spirits. Unlike in the capital, they are all sick beauties. Every time I attend a banquet, I feel that they may faint when I look at them. Fortunately, my grandmother loves Huibao and me. We are never restricted in eating. I still like the customs of Xizhou. Young girls don't have to put on makeup on their faces as if they are about to die. "
Jiang Yanyi said: "Everyone has a different face. Whether it is makeup or body shape, a well-proportioned body will naturally look good. There is no need to ruin your body for the sake of what others say is good-looking."
Chu Shubao nodded wildly: "I think so too."
The two chatted for a while, and the waiter came back with vegetables, but he only bought cheaper pork. Jiang Yanyi cut half of the lean meat into thin slices for later use, chopped the other half into a paste and mixed it with chopped coriander, beat an egg, mixed it evenly, and kneaded it into meatballs.
After the ingredients were ready, she heated up the pot and added some oil. When the oil temperature came up, she scooped a large amount of seasoning sauce into the pot. The solidified oil melted when it was heated, and the mixture of vegetable oil and animal oil produced a strong aroma. Jiang Yanyi used a spatula to stir-fry while adding spices to the pot and stir-frying them evenly. For a moment, the air was full of the rich aroma of the seasoning.
After the seasoning was fried, pour in boiling water. If you use broth, the taste will be better, but unfortunately there is not enough time to boil it.
As soon as the water boiled, Jiang Yanyi put potato slices, lotus root slices, bean sprouts and tofu into the pot to cook. When they were about 70% done, he put the meat slices and coriander meatballs into the pot. At the same time, he soaked a few instant noodles in boiling water. When the noodles were soaked, he picked them up with chopsticks and put them into the pot to cook. After turning off the fire, he put them into the soup pot and sprinkled them with scallions and coriander, which was both beautiful and fragrant.
The difference between maocai and hot pot is that hot pot is eaten by shabu-shabu, while maocai is a pot of stew with all the ingredients cooked.
The rice was steamed in a wooden barrel steamer in advance. When Jiang Yanyi shouted to start eating, the waiters who had been drooling for a long time outside at the smell rushed into the kitchen like dogs, and took out two maocai pots and steamers with rice.
A dozen people sat around two tables. Jiang Yanyi took Bing Shao and Chu Shubao to eat with several old masters. The noodle shop
had a hard time making a living before, and cooking was not very profitable, so there was no time to eat meat like this. The young waiters almost wolfed down the food, picking up a piece of vegetable from the soup pot and scooping up the hot rice and swallowing it. From the root to the tip of the tongue, the spicy aftertaste was all over the body, and the aftertaste was endless.
The vegetarian dishes in the pot seemed to have been cooked with the aroma of meat, and the instant noodles also fully absorbed the meaty soup. When they were eaten, they tasted several times better than usual, and the employees of the noodle shop were full of praise.
Chu Shubao was a carefree person. She was not uncomfortable at all during the meal, and even took the initiative to ask the masters about the craftsmanship of making noodles. She seemed casual, but her words were quite measured.
Jiang Yanyi felt that this girl was a person with her own ideas. If she focused on rouge, she might be able to achieve something in the future.
After the meal, Chu Shubao touched her round belly and sighed, and it was difficult for her to walk.
Jiang Yanyi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Don't eat too much next time."
Chu Shubao rubbed her stomach and complained, "If I could control my mouth, I wouldn't be like this now."
She even smelled her clothes as she spoke, "I always feel that my clothes are also smelled. I hope Huibao won't pull my sleeve and cry when I go back."
Jiang Yanyi said, "It's not that smelly. Next time you come, bring Huibao and the others with you."
Chu Shubao's eyebrows began to fight, "Grandma doesn't let Huibao come."
Jiang Yanyi asked, "Why?"
Chu Shubao said with a tangled face, "Grandma said Huibao is too greedy."
Jiang Yanyi chuckled, "No matter how much she eats, can she bankrupt my store?"
Chu Shubao also smiled embarrassedly.
She was so full that Jiang Yanyi thought it would be good to walk to digest the food, so he didn't call a bullock cart and took Chu Shubao directly back to the antique soup shop on foot.
As soon as she arrived at the store, she found a bullock cart parked in front of the door. There was no one on the cart, only a dozen chickens tied together by their wings and feet, looking like they were ready to be slaughtered. It was a spectacular sight.