This wild vegetable, bracken, Chiang Xiao had just been discussing with her grandfather when she was surprised to discover that no one in Siyang Village had ever eaten it before!
Her grandfather also told her that he had never heard of it either. The plant curled up like claws, which they commonly called mountain claws, but he didn’t know they were also a type of wild vegetable.
However, he did hear people mention eating bracken when he went to market before, but he had never connected the two.
Chiang Xiao had drawn it out for him with her fingers dipped in tea on the table. Her drawing was accurate, and Chiang Songhai recognized it as mountain claws right away. Only then did he realize this thing was edible, and to be served cold in a salad.
He knew there was some on Bai Gu Mountain, but you would have to walk further in from the stream where they last rested. There was a rather damp and shady slope there, with lots of things growing.
But with the dense grass, abundance of trees, and scattered dead wood, he feared the area was rife with snakes and insects, as well as unseen pitfalls. One careless step could twist an ankle or cause a fall into a hole, so he only explored the area once and never again.
Ma Jincai, hearing that there could be thirty jin of Tianxiang Green a week, immediately clicked his tongue in amazement.
Upon hearing about the bracken as well, he quickly said, "Boss, I won’t lie to you. We locals didn’t know this stuff was edible until we tried it up north and learned how to cook it. I reckon it’ll be a novelty for about half a year. Once people figure out how to eat it, the price will probably drop. So for this next half year, I’ll take as much as you can supply!"
So that was the situation.
Chiang Songhai suddenly understood and found Ma Jincai’s words to be honest.
Chiang Xiao, on the other hand, slightly furrowed her brow at Ma Jincai’s final remark.
Peace Town isn’t big. Can the Peace Restaurant consume that much wild vegetable in a week? Even if they can manage thirty jin of Tianxiang Green, what kind of confidence does Ma Jincai have to add that he’ll take as much as can be supplied?
"Director Ma, what if we could deliver thirty jin of Tianxiang Green, fifty jin of bracken, and twenty jin of mushrooms every week?"
"We’ll take it, we’ll take it all," Ma Jincai said with a trace of excitement, then noticing Chiang Xiao’s skepticism, he couldn’t help but be surprised by the girl’s intelligence.
After thinking for a moment, he lowered his voice and said, "Let me be honest with you. The Peace Restaurant probably can’t consume all these mountain goods, but as it happens, my wife’s uncle is also a restaurant director, at the Xiang Le Restaurant in Changxi Town."
What a coincidence, her uncle is also a restaurant director?
Chiang Xiao found it a bit amusing.
Changxi Town isn’t too far from Peace Town. A bus ride takes about an hour and a half, so there are quite a few intermarriages between the two towns. Peace Town has quite a few brides from Changxi Town.
"The situation in Changxi Town is similar to ours in Peace Town, so the Xiang Le Restaurant is also hard-pressed for unique dishes. Every time my wife’s uncle comes over, he complains about it. So, when I heard you could get these things, I immediately thought of him."
No matter how many wild vegetables and mountain goods there were, splitting them between the two restaurants should be manageable.
And now that times are gradually improving, more and more people can afford to dine out, so adding more variety to the menu is definitely a good thing.
"Director Ma, our family doesn’t have enough hands to deliver the goods to Changxi Town," Chiang Xiao said thoughtfully.
Ma Jincai waved his hand, "Don’t worry about that. Isn’t there a shuttle bus that goes to the county seat every day? It passes through Changxi Town. I’ll arrange the timing with my uncle-in-law. The goods can be delivered by the shuttle and he’ll have someone pick them up at the station."
That was actually a good idea.
"Then, Director Ma, we’ll be going into the mountains next weekend. Shall we deliver the goods Sunday morning?"