Chapter 213

The pickled vegetables had initial success, and everyone was happy for Madam Zhou.

She restrained her excitement and planned, "It's perfect that the gate of Qing Tian County town has reopened; tomorrow Old Zhou will be patrolling the village, I'll bring some pickled vegetables into town to test the waters, selling just the pickled string beans and cilantro."

"By then I can also teach customers how to eat these pickled string beans."

Meng Dangni zi pondered, "At this season, fresh vegetables flood the market, so prices naturally can't go up; processing them into pickled goods for sale is indeed more profitable than selling fresh vegetables, but..."

"Could we sell only the cooked pickled string beans, like the ones we eat, offering two or three flavors for customers to choose from?"

Madam Zhou looked doubtfully at Meng Dangni zi.

He Jinglan laughed while introducing, "Meng Dangni zi is the owner of the Xiancheng Zhenbaoge, a businessman for many years."

Madam Zhou suddenly understood, and hastily asked humbly, "I've seen those sauce shops in town selling salted vegetable lumps; they just put whole basins out for people to pick from, weighing and charging. Why can't pickled string beans be sold that way?"

Meng Dangni zi smiled faintly, "It's not that it can't be sold that way, but rather we should change the way we sell it."

She paused, then continued explaining, "For example, your pickled cilantro is refreshing and appetizing, can be eaten directly, and a small portion isn't expensive. Moreover, there's nothing like it in the nearby restaurants and eateries; diners seeing it would inevitably feel tempted, and since they can't cook easily, they'd want to buy some ready-to-eat side dishes."

"But pickled string beans, as you also said, aren't suitable for eating directly."

"Pickled vegetables that need to be taken home and cooked can only be sold like the salted vegetables from the sauce shop, by weight."

Meng Dangni zi picked up the jar of cilantro, "If raw pickled string beans are placed alongside it, I'm afraid even the price of this cilantro would be dragged down."

Madam Zhou felt as if enlightened; what had been vague and hard to grasp became clear before her eyes.

"Exactly, if we do as Boss Meng says, we'll definitely sell more than I would!"

He Jinglan said, "If I were eating nearby, I'd probably want to buy a serving or two to try something new."

Gu Xixi pondered, "This method is good—process it into side dishes, sell in small portions, and the profit margin will be larger."

Madam Zhou didn't grasp what "profit margin" meant, only knowing that it basically meant making more money.

She deeply felt that this trip hadn't been in vain, racking her brains to pester Meng Dangni zi and Gu Xixi with questions.

Half an hour passed, from the stall's position, from how much pickled vegetables to bring the first time, how to price them, how much a small portion should contain, to how to package them attractively, how to hawk and capture customers' hearts…

After hearing that, Zhang Shen leaned against the wall and fell asleep; only then did Madam Zhou rise to take her leave.

As Gu Xixi saw her out, the rain outside had already stopped.

Unlike her nervous arrival, Madam Zhou's eyes held determination as she left.

"Xixi, thank you for giving us another path again."

"Although this is my first time doing business, I'm actually still unsure in my heart, but I'll do my best."

Gu Xixi smiled, "Things we don't know will gradually become known."

"Perhaps this path is quite suitable?"

After seeing Madam Zhou off, Gu Xixi smiled and looked at Meng Dangni zi, performing a solemn clasped-hand salute:

"Expertise lies in specialization; Elder Sister Meng, you truly are a businessman—I'm convinced."

"Thanks to you today, the ideas that I and the Zhou family came up with can be properly carried out."

Meng Dangni zi covered her mouth and chuckled a few times, unable to hold back, saying, "Don't flatter me; the remarkable one is actually you."

Gu Xixi saw that He Jinglan had the same amused expression, and puzzled, asked, "What could be remarkable about me?"

Meng Dangni zi and He Jinglan exchanged a glance.

He Jinglan said, "Someone who can't cook actually managed to write out a pickled vegetable recipe and give it away."

"And it's this strange, unusual dish that none of us have ever eaten?"

Facing the gaze of those two, Gu Xixi blinked and said, "Huh?"

During her graduate studies, she followed her mentor to the countryside to assist agriculture, staying for a period at a township-run pickled vegetable factory.

That factory's main product was pickled string beans; she had seen and learned how the pickling vats were seasoned.

As for the pickled cilantro, there's also a story behind it.

During that time, Gu Xixi ate various kinds of pickled string beans, her eyes practically glowing green; one day at lunch, a kind aunt shared a jar of pickled cilantro with her.

Minced cilantro mixed with small red chili, garlic paste, and ginger juice—fragrant, spicy, and delicious—it rescued Gu Xixi's taste buds.

Moved, she asked the aunt for the recipe and wrote it down carefully herself.

Later, when she returned, although she had never made it herself, the method was simple; having written it once, she remembered it.

Unfortunately, there's no small red chili here, so the recipe still needs to omit one ingredient.

Recalling this, Gu Xixi resolutely said, "Of course I just randomly came up with it; I thought it would taste good, and you all say it's delicious, right?"

She clicked her tongue, "This time I can only say that Madam Zhou and I have both been lucky."

Having said that, Gu Xixi turned and walked away, "There are still some raw pickled string beans; tonight we could stir-fry them with minced meat and roll spring pancakes, or stir-fry them with rice—either would be fine…"

He Jinglan and Meng Dangni zi both gazed at Gu Xixi's back.

Just that?

Can a randomly thought-up recipe really be this delicious?

Meng Dangni zi said, "I also want to open a shop together with Xixi; do you know what other skills she has?"

He Jinglan shook his head, paused, then added, "But I think, as long as Gu Xixi stays with us, whatever shop you want to open will surely have hope."

Qing Tian County reopened, and after a brief dip, commerce within the county town welcomed a small peak.

Both rich and poor commoners were stockpiling grain, food, and medicinal herbs.

They feared that if fighting reached Qing Tian County, commodity prices would skyrocket.

In Huachi Du Cun, those few households that grow fruit trees have sold all their stored produce.

Madam Zhou's pickled vegetable business turned out to be quite good as well.

Many people were reluctant to go to big restaurants for meals, opting instead for street-side stalls and eateries.

Madam Zhou's pickled vegetable stall was set up there—good quality, inexpensive, and looking clean as well.

Nearby, those who eat wontons, sesame buns, and steamed buns were all willing to buy a serving of pickled vegetables to balance the flavors.

For three straight days, these families, besides rotating guard patrols in the village, also had to go to town to sell goods, busy to the point of being overwhelmed, and still didn't forget to take time to deliver good news to Gu Xixi.

An Qinghe kept hearing what others had done in Qing Tian County, and had long been itching to go.

"Gu Xixi, I want to make a trip to Qing Tian County."

Gu Xixi was tinkering with the newly made fertilizer, "No."

An Qinghe didn't understand, "But now everyone can leave the village; as long as we're careful, leave the village after daybreak and return before dark, it'll be fine."

These were all words he heard from people who had left the village.

Gu Xixi remained unmoved, "Others are others, you are you."

"Besides, you are a sapling seller; at a time like this, others either retreat to defend their homes or are always ready to flee—who would plant trees?"

An Qinghe furrowed his brows, acting like a child coquettishly, "Gu Xixi~ I just want to stroll around; merchants must constantly go deep into the market to discover new business opportunities~"

Gu Xixi's mind stirred, "I'll give you a business opportunity, how about that?"

An Qinghe was stunned, "You're serious? I'm not a child."

Gu Xixi said, "When have I ever lied to you? Come over, finish this first and I'll tell you."