Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Who Knows Which Brat Will End Up Lucky
"Two taels?"
Upon hearing this number, Yi Meng’s first reaction wasn’t joy, but puzzlement.
As the head chef, she didn’t note down all the dishes sold at noon, but she knew the rough quantity.
With so many dishes sold, it was impossible to have only earned two taels of silver.
So...
Yi Meng looked at Qi Ercai, who was smiling at her, and suddenly laughed: "Second Brother, you’re saying the two taels of silver are net profit?"
"Yes."
Qi Ercai nodded: "I don’t know the exact cost, but from what you said before, our profit margin is at least forty percent, so I calculated the net profit from today’s lunch to be at least two taels and three qian silver."
"That makes sense, I wondered why we only sold two taels after busying ourselves all noon!"
Yi Meng sighed in relief and added before others could express their excitement: "But this is just because we’ve just opened, many people are coming for the novelty."
The Qi Family were already shocked nearly unconscious by the net profit of two taels and three qian silver, but Mrs. Qi turned even paler upon hearing this.
"Meng Niang, what do you mean by this? Do you mean that once this excitement is over, we won’t make any money?"
Mrs. Qi could hardly believe her ears.
If that were true, wouldn’t they be risking hundreds of taels!
Yi Meng shook her head: "Mother, it’s not like that. As long as customers come in to eat, we’ll make money, more or less. Plus, this shop is ours; the most cost is hiring staff and some meat and condiment costs. Like the vegetables and fish are all ours. You see, no matter how we sell, we can’t lose money, right?"
This reassured Mrs. Qi, albeit not by much.
Mrs. Qi wasn’t excited anymore, frowned and said: "This won’t do, our family must raise pigs. Raising them ourselves will surely be cheaper than buying from outside!"
This suggestion instantly won the approval of everyone in the Qi Family.
Then, the two elders didn’t stay in the restaurant and headed back to the village.
They tidied up the pigsty and contacted villagers from other villages to inquire about catching piglets.
Yi Meng sat in the wing room in the backyard, feeding Xiao Shiyi, and laughed as she talked to Liu Meiniang about the old lady wanting to raise pigs.
Liu Meiniang chuckled: "Mother-in-law is so amusing, saying she’ll raise pigs, she really will."
After speaking, Liu Meiniang continued: "But, Fourth Sister, the weather will turn cold soon, catching piglets now, what will we do in winter? Will they freeze and fall ill?"
"Did you think the pigs can be raised immediately?"
Yi Meng swapped out the grain sack for her youngest son and continued: "Winter isn’t the main worry, it’s where to catch piglets now? My mother-in-law—your godmother—is speaking boldly now, you’ll see, in a few days she’ll realize it’s not that easy."
"You’re right!"
Liu Meiniang agreed and nodded, then continued: "Fourth Sister, I couldn’t understand why you didn’t make that spicy chicken the signature dish?"
Before coming to the Qi Family, Liu Meiniang never knew spicy flavors could be so... invigorating.
Different from the spice of Cornelian Cherry, that taste made her yearn for it after just one try.
Yi Meng couldn’t help but laugh seeing her that way: "Craving spicy chicken, huh? I’ll make it for you tonight."
"No, Fourth Sister, I didn’t mean that."
Liu Meiniang blushed, quietly explaining: "I just think the spicy chicken tastes especially good, but it doesn’t seem to be on the menu, so I was confused."
Yi Meng didn’t plan to tease her too much, so she explained: "Meng Niang, there’re many smart people in the world. Whether it’s reading, medicine, or embroidery, they’re exceptionally skilled in their fields."
"Cooking is the same. You think I cook well now, but that’s compared to others. I have self-awareness, I’m not one of those naturally talented smart people, and the dishes I make appear novel now, so they attract some people’s liking."
"But if this liking spreads widely, and those with cooking talents learn about it, they’ll quickly study the methods."
"Even if they aren’t naturally gifted, but just old cooks who’ve cooked for many years, they wouldn’t find it difficult to research these dishes."
"Once they’ve figured out the methods of these specialty dishes I make, these specialties might become ordinary dishes."
"Tell me, if that happens, what will we use as Qi Family Restaurant’s signature dishes?"
Yi Meng’s voice was gentle and soft, not at all discouraged, rather she seemed an amiable elder asking a younger about a non-serious question.
Liu Meiniang listened intently, thought deeply, and finally said: "Fourth Sister, so you mean that when current specialties become common dishes, we’ll introduce new dishes as the specialty, right?"
"Yes, but not entirely correct."
Yi Meng explained: "What you said is indeed one way to solve this, but also introducing a few new dishes periodically can help maintain a stable customer flow."
"Cus-customer flow?"
Liu Meiniang was somewhat puzzled, clearly not understanding the term.
Yi Meng briefly explained, Liu Meiniang then knowingly nodded: "I get it. Fourth Sister, you’re really smart!"
A sincere compliment.
Liu Meiniang felt neither Qi nor Liu Families had anyone smarter than Fourth Sister.
Yet Yi Meng felt a bit guilty receiving such praise.
She wasn’t actually smart, but because she’d mastered thousands of years’ worth of experience beyond here, she seemed a bit smarter than most people.
The two chatted idly until Yi Meng couldn’t help yawning, Liu Meiniang then left, allowing Yi Meng a nap.
Liu Meiniang went to the yard, saw the other two sisters-in-law picking and washing vegetables, and quickly rolled up her sleeves to help.
Qu Laodi liked looking at Liu Meiniang: "Meiniang sister, you’re so pretty and virtuous, I wonder which family’s son will be lucky to have you."
"Alas, thinking about you marrying away, Second Sister can’t bear it."
These words made Liu Meiniang’s face blush deeply, she playfully retorted: "Second Sister!"
"Getting shy, are we."
Qu Laodi held Liu Meiniang’s hand, a smile on her face, but seriously said: "Sister, we truly cherish you, a heartfelt advice, marrying is like a second birth for women, you must choose a good family carefully, understand?"
"Oh, Second Sister, you’re still saying!"
Liu Meiniang’s face was blushing so much it was about to bleed, she pretended to pull back her hand and leave.
Ai Zhaodi quickly said: "Meiniang sister is so good, it definitely won’t go wrong in the future. Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore."
