221, Grand Opening (3rd Update)
Xie Zhinuan had several new sets of satin clothes made, and the tailor’s shop had already delivered them. She tried them on and found that they fit perfectly, and they looked good on her, so she borrowed a set of jade ornaments from her own space.
Quality mattered more than quantity, with just two jade hairpins, a pair of jade earrings, and a jade bracelet, all of a greenish jade without a single thread of impurity.
When Yin Suwen saw them, she knew they were of the highest quality emperor green. Such exquisite items were in Xie Zhinuan’s possession, and she had never breathed a word of it before.
Xie Zhinuan also went out of her way to buy rouge and face powder, all of the finest quality. She bought little, but it was all exquisite.
“Miss, there’s someone looking for you outside!”
“Who?” Xie Zhinuan raised an eyebrow.
After seeing the visitor, Xie Zhinuan laughed, “You’ve come over at this time. Is the shop all taken care of?”
“It’s all set. We made a trip to Xiaohe Village, and when we learned that Miss had come to Fengping County, we rushed over. Here are the house and land deeds, all registered under Miss’s name according to the household registry. It’s just the silver for the shop…”
“No worries, just tell me how much, and I will give it to you. You take it back and get the cured meat shop up and running. Once you’re stable, come to the county town. I’m counting on you for the restaurant here when the time comes!”
The group hastily agreed.
Xie Zhinuan took out the spices and explained how to use them, how to select the meat and how to cook it, including the control of the cooking time. Xie Zhinuan was very meticulous and patient, even demonstrating the curing process in the kitchen for them.
The group looked at each other and realized that the cured meat was much more fragrant than at Yuanji.
It was not even in the same league.
“I’ve paired it with a secret recipe. You take it back with you, and when the time comes, just pour it into the well water, and it’s done!”
“Yes!”
The group nodded repeatedly.
They were exceedingly respectful to Xie Zhinuan.
In their hearts, they knew that by following Xie Zhinuan, they would be able to make a lot of money in the future.
“When you go back, be very careful not to break the jars!” Xie Zhinuan instructed.
All of them were skilled chefs and knew how to cure meat. Now that Xie Zhinuan had given them further instruction, curing meat was not a difficult task at all.
They stayed in Fengping County for one night and then went back to their respective towns the next day, taking with them the silver notes, secret recipes, and spices given by Xie Zhinuan.
Xie Zhinuan had already informed them of the business model, and as capable individuals, they would not have difficulty managing it, so she felt reassured.
When the first batch of dried radishes was ready, spicy and numbing, Xie Zhinuan had Li Hengyi and the others taste them.
“How is it?” she asked expectantly, looking at Li Hengyi.
“Quite good, if you have a plate of it with porridge in the morning, it’s really appetizing!”
Xie Zhinuan was delighted.
She immediately went to have them packed into small jars. For such dried radishes, she decided to sell them for fifty wen a jar.
Because they were quick to make, and radishes were very cheap.
The second day of September was an auspicious day, and Xie Zhinuan had all three of her cured meat shops open at the same time.
Early in the morning, pork was delivered to each shop. She went through each one, leaving people to watch over them.
She did not show up for the opening.
Early in the morning, the scent of the cured meat wafted from the shops, making the passersby drool and unable to walk away, eagerly waiting at the door for the grand opening. When the doors finally opened, several young men came out and set off firecrackers.
“Fellow villagers and elders, if you’re passing by, don’t miss out! Today, Xieji’s cured meat shop is having its opening, and the cured meat is free to taste. If you like it, buy some to take home, have your family try something fresh!”
The meat was quickly sliced and chopsticks were handed out.
Someone took a bite, hmm, then pursed their lips.
They had eaten a lot of meat before, but something this fragrant, rich but not greasy, was a first for them.
“How do you sell it, and how much per pound?”
“Fifty wen per pound. Buy two pounds and you get a bowl, and you can even scoop some sauce!”
Chapter 222