met free Chapter 66 Selling Cold Noodles
Chapter 66 Selling Cold Noodles
"Uncle, I have an idea," Xiao Siyue said, seeing that everyone had almost finished eating.
"Oh? What's your idea?"
"Here's the thing, I was thinking that I'm not too busy these days, so how about I have my aunt and grandma set up a stall in town to sell cold noodles?" Xiao Siyue looked at her uncle Lin, which was also the purpose of her making cold noodles today.
"This, Yue'er..." Uncle Lin was shocked, looking at Xiao Siyue and not knowing what to say.
Grandma Lin and her aunt also looked at Xiao Siyue, their eyes filled with excitement.
They had just eaten liangpi (cold skin noodles), and after Xiao Siyue's suggestion, they naturally realized that selling liangpi in town would definitely be very popular.
"Yue'er, the cold noodles recipe is yours, we can't use it." Uncle Lin still refused; she couldn't take advantage of her little niece.
Hearing Uncle Lin's words, Grandma Lin and Aunt Lin felt somewhat disappointed.
Especially Aunt Lin, she really wanted to make money from this recipe, but she was different now than before. Although she was still a little reluctant, she couldn't take Xiao Siyue's things.
“Uncle, why can’t we use it? This is what I thought of for you.” Xiao Siyue was very happy that her uncle thought this way, which showed that her uncle’s family had a bottom line. So she didn’t need to think too much about helping her uncle’s family. Besides, it wasn’t a big deal.
"Really?" Aunt Lin's disappointment was instantly reignited.
“Of course it’s true,” Xiao Siyue said with a smile, looking at her aunt. Her aunt had really changed a lot.
"Uncle, please don't refuse anymore," Xiao Siyue urged Uncle Lin again.
Seeing that Xiao Siyue insisted, Uncle Lin agreed: "Alright, thank you, Yue'er."
Aunt Lin couldn't wait to set up a stall in town right now.
Xiao Siyue chuckled and said, "Aunt, don't rush, we need to prepare things first."
"Yes, yes," Aunt Lin smiled sheepishly.
Xiao Siyue estimated that if they were to set up a stall in town, they would need at least two or three tables and several chairs. One table would be used to display their condiment bowls, and two would serve as dining tables for customers.
"Uncle, let's take the tables and chairs tomorrow. After we sell them, we'll put them in the Xiao family's toy shop," Xiao Siyue said, thinking that it wasn't very convenient to move the tables and chairs around every day. Putting them in the backyard of the shop would be just right.
"Is that alright?" Uncle Lin asked with some concern.
"Of course, Uncle, don't worry," Xiao Siyue assured her, adding that it was just a matter of setting up the tables and chairs.
"Well."
"Aunt, let's wash the batter tonight and steam it tomorrow morning," Xiao Siyue said to her aunt. Cold noodles don't taste good overnight; it's best to make them fresh.
“Okay,” Aunt Lin readily agreed, feeling like she had boundless energy.
Xiao Siyue asked her aunt to wash the cold noodles and asked Grandma Lin to prepare the minced garlic. She herself prepared the seasoning water and taught the steps to her aunt.
Once everything was ready, everyone gathered together to discuss how to set up their stall the next day.
"Uncle, how much do you plan to sell a bowl for?" Xiao Siyue asked. Actually, she already had an idea in mind, but she still wanted to ask Uncle Lin first.
"Yue'er, what do you think about selling a bowl for 8 coins?"
Xiao Siyue calculated that 1 jin of flour can make 5 bowls of liangpi (cold skin noodles). With other ingredients, the cost of one bowl is about 4 to 5 wen (0.4 to 0.5 yuan). Labor costs also need to be factored in. The main problem is that flour is too expensive, and it's fine flour.
“Uncle, let’s sell it for 10 coins,” Xiao Siyue suggested.
"Also, sesame paste is sold separately. When you sell it, just tell the customer that if they want sesame paste, they'll have to pay an extra 5 coins." There's no other way; sesame seeds are much more expensive than flour now, making them a rare commodity.
"Isn't this too expensive?" Uncle Lin felt that he couldn't accept the price.
"No, Uncle, think about the cost, it's actually not expensive," Xiao Siyue said.
"Alright then." Uncle Lin thought about it carefully and agreed.
And that's how the price of liangpi (cold skin noodles) was set.
The next day, shortly after dawn, Aunt Lin and Grandma Lin had already gotten up and started steaming cold noodles.
When Xiao Siyue and her cousins got up, the cold noodles had already been packed. They had also arranged with the village's oxcart driver in advance to pick them up right at their doorstep.
By the time they arrived in town and set up the table, it was already past 9 AM, and the streets were bustling with people.
"Cold skin noodles for sale! Cold skin noodles for sale! Fresh and delicious, you won't regret taking a bite!" Xiao Siyue's shouts reached the ears of the people on the street, and everyone walked over curiously.
Xiao Siyue enthusiastically called out to the crowd, "Fresh liangpi (cold skin noodles), refreshing and delicious, everyone come and try it!" Her shouts were light and cheerful, full of energy.
Lin Dandan joined in the shouting, and soon more and more people flocked to the stall.
Everyone was just observing and no one stepped forward to buy.
Most people felt the price was too high, and some were hesitant to try new foods.
"Hey sister, how about a bowl of cold noodles? If you don't like it, you don't have to pay," Xiao Siyue said sweetly to a well-dressed woman.
"Oh my, you little girl, I'm old enough to be your mother, and you still call me sister." Although the woman said this, the upturned corners of her mouth and the smile on her face showed how much she liked the title.
"Oh my, I really can't tell! I thought you were only sixteen. You look so young!" Xiao Siyue's sweet words kept coming, making the woman smile from ear to ear.
"Oh, young lady, you're so good with words. Give me a bowl then, and it's all settled, if you don't like it, you don't have to pay," the woman said with a smile.
"Of course," Xiao Siyue assured with a smile.
"Aunt, bring this lady a bowl of cold noodles," Xiao Siyue said, turning to Aunt Lin.
Aunt Lin was stunned by Yu Xiaosiyue's actions, thinking to herself that her little niece was too quick-witted.
"Great!" Although she was amazed by her niece's skill, what made her even happier was that she had finally closed a deal.
"Sister, would you like some sesame paste? It'll cost an extra 5 coins." Xiao Siyue asked the woman again.
"Sesame paste is a bit expensive," the woman said hesitantly.
“Sister, since you’re our first customer, we’ll only charge you 3 coins for the sesame paste today,” Xiao Siyue said.
"Alright, give me another one." When the woman heard that she could save 2 coins, she didn't hesitate to add another one. She knew the price of sesame seeds and thought that 3 coins was a good deal.
"Okay, Aunt, add sesame paste."
Aunt Lin was very quick; in the time it took to speak, a bowl of liangpi (cold skin noodles) with the aroma of sesame was already placed in front of the woman.
"Sister, you should try it."
The woman couldn't wait to pick up her chopsticks and start eating.
After the woman finished the whole bowl of cold noodles with great satisfaction, she exclaimed, "It was so delicious!"
"See, sister, I didn't lie to you, did I?" Xiao Siyue breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the woman's satisfied expression.
"Mmm, I've never eaten anything so delicious before!" the woman said, seemingly still savoring the taste, her face filled with delight.
Seeing this, the others couldn't help but speak up as well.
Is it really delicious?
"It's delicious, you should try it, it's definitely worth the price," the woman said to the man.
Those who have plenty of money have already stepped forward to buy.
"Give me a bowl." "Me too."
Some people who were reluctant to spend the money gritted their teeth and bought a serving, mainly because they couldn't resist watching others eat.
In no time, all the cold noodles they brought were sold out.
"Alright, we're out of cold noodles for today. If you want some, come back tomorrow. We'll be at the same spot again," Xiao Siyue said loudly, looking at the long queue.
"That's it? I've been waiting in line for ages," someone complained.
Some people regretted not buying it sooner.
The area around the stall was noisy.
"Don't worry, everyone. Today is our first time selling, so we're not making much. We'll make more tomorrow," Xiao Siyue reassured everyone.
"Alright, you'll need to bring more tomorrow," someone said.
"Yes, definitely," Xiao Siyue assured.
After receiving a reply, everyone dispersed.