The next morning, Tao Wanniang first sent the Ling brothers to fill the water tank in the kitchen, while she herself strolled leisurely around the vegetable market with Bai Yumei.
Meat in the capital wasn't expensive, only 100 coins a pound, so we ordered a pound; and we ordered several pounds of all kinds of seasonal vegetables. Before long, the two of them arrived at the restaurant with a full load of vegetables.
"Mother, then we'll head back now." The Ling brothers had already prepared firewood and water. Actually, they didn't want to leave. Compared to listening to the old scholar reciting at home, it was much better to work in the restaurant.
“Go back. Yu Mei and I won’t be back for lunch. You two decide for yourselves. Don’t try to fool us. I’ll ask Xiao Qiao’er and the teacher later,” Tao Wan’s mother said sternly.
“Mother, how can you say it’s just a charade? It’s just that Hongyu and my sister-in-law’s skills are no match for yours!” Ling Dahu said with difficulty. “Mother, no one’s skills can compare to yours.”
"Ha!" Tao Wanniang sneered. "Go back! I don't want to serve you!"
The Ling brothers looked embarrassed, forced a smile, and obediently went back.
Tao Wanniang and Bai Yumei had nothing much to do at the restaurant, so they chatted idly.
"Big sister, if you're not opening for business, why are you welcoming guests?" Bai Yumei asked, somewhat puzzled.
“Since we’re just idling at home anyway, come on, I’m going to write a note,” Tao Wan’s mother said excitedly. “Let’s go ask Old Jiang next door for some writing materials.”
Seeing Tao Wanniang suddenly get up, Bai Yumei was puzzled. What was she up to now?
"Manager Jiang, give me a piece of paper. I'm going to put up a notice on the door," Tao Wanniang said with great interest.
"Manager Tao, what are you writing? Opening a shop is easy, but keeping it running is hard. As long as the door is wide open, people will always come," Jiang Youfu said in the tone of someone who had been there before.
“I know,” Tao Wanniang replied, still urging Jiang Youfu to lend her some pen and ink.
"Only ten meals are sold each day." Tao Wanniang wrote the words down stroke by stroke, then asked for some paste and pasted it directly on the door.
"Big sister, what are you doing? Are you going to push guests away?" Bai Yumei asked, puzzled.
“Yes, once we reach this number, I’ll push them out,” Tao Wanniang said. “We haven’t even opened yet, so we’re just testing the waters with our customers. Besides, it’s just the two of us; we can’t handle too many customers!” This is a scarcity marketing tactic, just for the sake of creating hype, but Tao Wanniang didn’t want to explain too much to Bai Yumei.
Bai Yumei didn't understand, but thinking that Tao Wanniang wasn't short of money, perhaps the restaurant was just for fun.
"Big sister, whatever makes you happy," Bai Yumei said, as if to say, "Whatever makes you happy."
Jiang Youfu, standing to the side, looked at Tao Wanniang, then at Bai Yumei, and said admiringly, "Manager Tao, you're truly something!"
Before noon, Qian Feng arrived, accompanied by two colleagues.
"Only ten meals a day? Is this shopkeeper really that audacious?" Zhao Shi said, quite surprised, looking at the words on the door.
"We haven't opened yet, but let me tell you, the owner is an excellent cook. Don't be reluctant, it's on me today," Qian Feng reminded the two.
Zhao Shi and Liu Fang smiled and didn't take it seriously. Only Qian Feng was particular about food. As long as the food could fill his stomach, that was fine.
"Sister Tao, I'm here!" Qian Feng strode in and called out cheerfully.
"Stop shouting! I'm not blind. I saw you three grown men come in as soon as you walked in!" Tao Wan's mother rolled her eyes. "Did you see the notice at the door? Only ten meals are sold each day, and you went for three!"
"I see, Sister Tao, you really are not short of money!" Qian Feng joked.
"My shop isn't in the bustling city center, most people wouldn't even know about it!" Tao Wanniang said. "So, what do you want to eat?"
"Just cook a few dishes for the three of us, whatever you're good at. Also, get a plate of braised dishes. And look, we brought our own wine."
Tao Wanniang glanced at it indifferently and said nothing. She thought to herself that she should really sell some wine on the side.
After Tao Wanniang went to the kitchen, Zhao Shi and Liu Fang huddled up to Qian Feng. Zhao Shi whispered, "Tell me honestly, did you come here to eat or to see someone?"
Qian Feng was stunned and asked in confusion, "What are you talking about? Why would I come to a restaurant if I'm not going to eat?"
"If it's not this still charming older sister, could it be that slender young woman?" Liu Fang teased in a low voice.
"Go to hell! That's all I'm saying. Don't let Sister Tao hear this."
“Sister, you keep saying ‘big sister,’ so it must be that one. Qian Feng, you’ve had your fill of womanizing. If you don’t settle down soon, the brothers will start to doubt your ability in that area!” Zhao Shi joked.
Qian Feng glared at Zhao Shi and said, "Why don't you urge the General? He's getting on in years and still hasn't settled down. Why should I be in a hurry?"
As soon as Qian Feng said this, Zhao Shi and Liu Fang were stunned and couldn't answer for a moment.
"Alas, I wonder if the General has some hidden ailment. You all know, he is handsome and brave, and even the Princess is willing to marry him. Why doesn't the General agree?" Zhao Shi asked, puzzled.
"The General says he has a family, but no one knows when that happened. He fell off his horse when he was young and injured his brain. He only remembers his own name, so he doesn't remember anything else, right?" Liu Fang gossiped. "I guess the General is just using his family story to appease the Princess."
"You two, that's enough! You dare to gossip about the General? Believe me or not, I'll go and complain to the General later!" Qian Feng said, feigning anger.
“Go ahead, if you go and tell them, we’ll also say you’ve got your eye on the restaurant’s female owner!” Zhao Shi winked and said smugly.
Tao Wanniang was in the kitchen unaware of this, but Bai Yumei overheard a few snippets. Women doing business are bound to face gossip, but she didn't seem to care much.
It's just... three men make a drama, they're so talkative!
"Yu Mei, help me bring out the dishes." Tao Wan Niang's voice came from the kitchen.
"Alright, eldest sister!" Bai Yumei immediately stepped forward.
"Let's serve the braised dishes first." On the stove, Tao Wan's mother had already ladled out a plate of braising spices, and in the pot, she was about to put the stir-fried vegetables in.
"Big sister, these three men are such gossips, they're even making fun of us," Bai Yumei complained. "I wonder if they'll cause trouble after they've had a few drinks."
"If they cause trouble, I'll fight them off," Tao Wanniang said domineeringly, wielding her shovel.
Bai Yumei was amused by Tao Wanniang and brought the braised dishes to the guests.
"Manager Tao, come and see! Those protection collectors are harassing Old Lady Qiao, who sells incense and candles!" Jiang Youfu rushed in and shouted as soon as he entered the room.
"Manager Jiang, please be gentle, we have guests!" Bai Yumei said.
Tao Wanniang heard it too, and saw her walk over from the kitchen with a spatula, heading straight to the table where Qian Feng and the others were sitting.
“Brother Qian, you’re all from the General’s Mansion, right? Can you do something for us common folk? Look, outside, a few young, idle hooligans are extorting money from us, bullying those of us who run small businesses.”
Tao Wanniang said directly, "Since you've helped, I'll give you a dish as a gift!"
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