Chapter 361: First Taste, Then Delight

The Ox Shopkeeper of the front shop, who knows what the ice cream is called, ignored a day's fatigue and found Qiao Mai that evening.

"Master, if you have something good, just bring it out, will you?"

"You rascal, earning so much money in a day, still not enough?"

"Hehe, making money has its secrets; once your good goods appear here, the rich's silver flows in—how great for helping the common folk!"

"Reasonable. Then, the shop will supply only twenty boxes a day, and additionally one barrel of beer; it's hot now, so this should sell well."

Ox Shopkeeper, puzzled, "What is beer?"

"A kind of wine; ice cream is sold by the box, beer by the cup, and neither can be omitted."

Qiao Mai waved a hand, and a box of ice cream and a barrel of beer appeared on the table; Yuan Jiaqi set the book in his hand down.

"Madam, this barrel looks really nice."

"Made of tin; come, the three of us will taste the beer."

The Emperor's mouth corner twitched; only her family has a glazed crystal cup that can hold the wine.

One barrel of beer is about ten cups; everyone who tasted it said it was good, and the key is that women can drink it too.

The Ox Shopkeeper stared several times, yet Niu, the Master, can conjure anything; even drinking requires a glazed crystal cup, so this wine must be delicious.

"I, the Empress, will also have a cup."

Don't be fooled by Qiao Mai's unwilling expression; she still loaded a barrel onto his cart.

"It's a bit few; let's try selling first. Can't sell more per day: one barrel of beer, twenty boxes of ice cream—first come, first served."

The Ox Shopkeeper, holding the ice cream, walked away happily; Qiao Mai smiled, "That old fellow is even more addicted than I am to making money."

The old Ox, after eating the ice cream, eyes brightened, "Master, the subordinate prefers this even more; look how exquisite this box is—won't sell it for Ten Taels of Silver less."

"This was given to you by Princess Consort Fu Wang, who said this wine should be drunk from such a cup; now their shop also uses this cup."

She invited Jia Mei to the shopfront; the two sat at the doorway, eating while watching the shop on that side.

"Went to the diligent one, not welcomed; when I step down, I'll stay at her house."

"Drink after opening the lid; cannot be kept overnight."

"That's really not courteous."

"In front of our house, we need not mention those big households."

One hundred sixty loads of dowry; just the diamond ornaments are ten boxes, jade ornaments ten boxes, gold ornaments ten boxes, premium pearls ten boxes; the space's Ginseng and Lingzhi are all over a hundred years old.

The next day, news that Qiao Ji Snack Puzi had a new product spread throughout Jingcheng; the food lovers all rushed over as soon as they heard.

"Your Majesty sent you here for what purpose?"

Indeed, given the current status and position of the Fu Wang family, besides the Emperor, it's him.

"At worst, tomorrow we'll go to her house to drink."

The crowd looked over, and it turned out Yubao had walked in himself.

"Then what about this wine?"

"Fine, I'll risk my life to accompany the madam."

In the evening, in the courtyard of Yuexian Pavilion, the family sat around the table, eating and drinking.

During the day, Yuan Jiaqi took office; she entered the space and, with Xiao Qing, searched at the computer—if it's not a top‑quality item, she won't take it; for worldly things, a single eighth‑grade Pill provides everything.

"I heard your family released a new product, what kind of beer is it? The Emperor asked the servant to come over to request a barrel."

"The servant thanks the Emperor."

"The son‑servant also wants a cup."

Yubao hurried the carriage back to the palace, quickly had it carried into the main hall, and shouted in self‑praise.

"Come, shall the two of us finish this barrel of beer?"

"This wine is good, but I don't have such a big stomach."

The two kept drinking, and the more they drank, the more they felt the wine's lingering sweet aftertaste; most importantly, it quenches thirst. They aren't heavy drinkers, so they didn't become addicted to this beer.

The daughter's current status is future Crown Princess, future Empress; her dowry naturally cannot be lacking.

"Your Majesty, Madam, Crown Prince Highness, the wine has arrived; I heard this wine doesn't get you drunk—it's not tasty at first, but after a few more sips you'll fall in love with it."

She didn't care about any of that; using this time, she prepared the dowry for Ling'er.

"What master, what subordinate."

"Yes."

"Look at those food lovers; they line up just for a bite, showing no sign of a high‑status household at all."

Chuan'er occasionally passed dishes to Jia Mei; about to become a father, naturally he was especially happy, and everyone discussed the shop's new product.

Yubao quickly came up to explain, "Your Majesty, this wine cannot be kept overnight after opening."

Qiao Mai opened the lid, feeling that drinking from a bowl wasn't the point, waved a hand and conjured three transparent draft‑beer glasses.

Haha!

That person, holding a small wooden spoon, ate bite by bite, moaning as he ate, humming contentedly; anyone unaware might think he was… something.

"The servant sends greetings to the Prince, the princess consort, the Princess, and the County Princess."

Even the dowry boxes are made of sandalwood; one can imagine how much Qiao Mai values her daughter's wedding.

It was poured full, with bubbles on top—truly fascinating!

Three impatient ones lifted it and took a sip; Ba Da smacked his mouth, "The first sip is cool, nothing much, come, keep drinking."

For three days, ice cream and beer dominated Jingcheng; indeed, many people rose before dawn, sending servants to line up.

Qiao Mai glanced at the two, "Drink again, have a few more sips to taste."

"Alright, the rest, Yubao, you all split it."

Yubao gave an awkward smile, looking worse than crying.

Yuan Jiaqi let out a little laugh, "Descriptive, haha, a bit fitting,"

"Then give me another cup,"

"Also."

Some people bought the new items in the shop, sat at the table happily eating, and even cheered for those waiting in line.

When Ling'er learned of it, she went straight to Qiao Mai and asked for two boxes; she had eaten them as a child, but hadn't much since.

"Does the subordinate set a cup for Two Taels of Silver?"

In the palace, the Emperor was eagerly waiting, while the Empress, Eleven, smiled with pursed lips.

Don't think it's just beer; it's still Wine, and after a few cups, Yuan Jiaqi got drunk.

Many people boast of getting these two new items, but for Qiao Mai, it's just adding a new product to Qiao Ji Puzi, which brings an extra two to three hundred Taels of Silver a day, amounting to tens of thousands of Taels a year.

"Take your time lining up; today there are two new items, one beer, one this, I bought both, just a bit pricey, have the money in your pockets ready, I'll try first for speed."

After finishing the first cup of Wine, the Emperor patted his own belly.

Those who got to eat were all beaming, those who didn't just licked their lips on the side; hearing that this only happens daily, each secretly resolved to line up before dawn.

"Good."

"The Emperor and his party just came, and they're back again?"

At that moment, the sound of a carriage came from the doorway, and Qiao Mai furrowed her brows.

Making the people beside her hungry, in no time the two new items sold out.

"Sister-in-law, now that you're pregnant, eat half a box; I'll eat the rest for you."

This thing, after two cups, makes you so full you can't even eat a meal, yet it doesn't cause drunkenness.

When he took the first sip, Shopkeeper Ba Da clicked his mouth, "Master, it's icy and very thirst‑quenching, but with this taste and color, I'd have thought it was some kind of urine."

"Yes, Master, the subordinate takes leave."

Qiao Mai downed a cup in one go, "Old Ox, try this ice cream, then set a price."

Several palace attendants lifted the barrel onto the table; Yubao stepped forward, opened the lid, and quickly placed the draft beer cups.

Ten boxes each of clothing, ten boxes of shoes, twenty boxes of various Rarity fabrics, ten boxes of top‑grade tea leaves, ten boxes of cut jade raw stones, ten boxes of complete sets of shampoo, conditioner, and skincare, and thirty boxes of various cute gold nuggets forged from gold arrived.

That's not even counting the beautiful carriage, the premium Ferghana Horse, and a Demon Beast, among other things.

She, as a mother, prepared, and Ling'er also prepared eighty carries for herself; the Betrothal Gifts were delivered to the Qiao Family in June, a total of One Hundred and Twenty Carries.

Qiao Mai calculated: three hundred sixty carries, which is quite a lot; she didn't expect the elderly lady to send twenty carries, Wang Zongsheng to send twenty carries, several families in Tianshui Town together to send twenty carries, Mu Junzhu to send five carries, the head of Xiao County to send five carries, making it four hundred thirty carries.

(End of chapter)