Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Delicious Cold Skin Noodles (2)_1 Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Delicious Cold Skin Noodles (2)_1 Once the wheat gluten was steamed, Lin Yuan quickly whipped up a bowl of cold noodles.
A sheet of cold noodles topped with strips of cucumber and wheat gluten, it was a generous portion.
She tasted it herself first.
Though it wasn’t as chewy as the modern cold noodles sold in stores, it was definitely free of preservatives, incredibly healthy, and after adding sesame salt, especially delicious—with a cool and slightly sour taste, it was very appetizing.
The third aunt and Sister-in-law Guizhi gave it a try and exclaimed in delight at its tastiness.
At that moment, the two little gluttons, having caught the scent, ran back and devoured what was left of the cold noodles, slurping it all down.
Each held their round bellies and cried out for another bowl.
The cold noodles were a huge success, and next on the agenda was consideration for selling them.
Lin Yuan began counting on her fingers and calculating with Sister-in-law Guizhi: “Sister-in-law, based on my estimate, two jin of flour can steam about twenty sheets of cold noodles, each sheet perfect for a bowl.
I walked around the town, and a bowl of noodles is selling for five wen money, and they’re not even as generous as our cold noodles.
So, I’m thinking, since we’re just starting, we could set the price at five wen money per bowl.
Sister-in-law Guizhi, a clever woman herself, quickly pondered this and began to murmur, “Five wen money per bowl, twenty sheets is a hundred wen, and the cost for two jin of flour is forty wen money, so this would make a profit—profit sixty wen.
Sister-in-law Guizhi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
In a month, that would amount to one thousand and eight hundred wen money, nearly two taels of silver!
It was even more than what her husband, Er Shuan, had made during his busiest times!
The third aunt also gaped in amazement.
However, Lin Yuan only smiled and shook her head: “Sister-in-law, you forgot about the cucumbers and sesame, didn’t you?
But even with these, the cost won’t be much.
Besides, once you expand and buy flour in bulk, the grain shop can give you a discount.” She didn’t mention one thing—that they would likely sell far more than twenty bowls a day; they would need at least fifty!
Sister-in-law Guizhi was elated, but she was not one to keep all the silver to herself: “Yuanyuan, the cold noodles were your idea, and you’re the one providing the flour.
How about this—I work for you, and when we make money, you take the larger share, then you pay me a wage.
The third aunt, standing nearby, nodded vigorously, fully supporting her daughter-in-law’s suggestion.
Lin Yuan was inwardly pleased, having not misjudged the woman.
However, she wasn’t planning to proceed that way.
She had big business plans, and the cold noodles were just a whim, not something she was counting on for income.
After some back and forth, though, Sister-in-law Guizhi insisted, refusing to take advantage of her.
With no other choice, Lin Yuan proposed a compromise: “How about this, Sister-in-law—you make and sell the cold noodles, I’ll provide the principal.
After you sell them, you give me one wen money for every bowl.
You know the situation at my home—I can’t leave, so I have to rely on you.
It’s only fair for you to take the larger share.”
Sister-in-law Guizhi still felt she was getting the better deal, but figured she could just sell more to make up for it and eventually agreed.
However, she wouldn’t hear of taking Lin Yuan’s principal; her husband, Carpenter Er Shuan, though not a big earner, could still muster up a tael or two of silver.
With the agreement in place, Lin Yuan could relax.
This woman was sharp, and her man was reliable.
The rest was not her concern anymore.
As Lin Yuan left Sister-in-law Guizhi’s house, she ran into Lan Hua.
From a distance, Lan Hua spotted her and started shouting excitedly while running towards her: “Lin Yuan, I was just coming to find you!
My dad just came back and said a lad from the Fuman Building was asking about you.
What sort of trouble have you caused to have the Fuman Building looking for you?”
Lan Hua shouted from afar, leaving Lin Yuan no chance to stop her.
Lin Yuan quickly looked around; fortunately, no one was there.
The place wasn’t far from Lin Dashuan’s house, but seeing it quiet and seemingly empty, she didn’t worry too much about it.
Once she got closer, Lin Yuan pulled her aside and immediately covered her mouth before she could shout again, “Madam, can you please lower your voice?
Do you really have to let the whole village know?”