Qi Zhenzhen ate while observing. Not many people were eating breakfast at the wonton stall. Most of them wore faded clothes and had kind expressions on their faces. Furthermore, each person who came had a specific title given by the young girl, indicating that the customers were regulars.
Aunt Lu wrapped and cooked the wontons, while Yingzi served them to the customers.
Despite her small stature, she carried the wontons steadily.
"Uncle Er Niu, you always came alone before. Why did you bring so many people today?" Yingzi asked curiously, sitting next to Zhang Er Niu after serving the wontons.
Zhang Er Niu scratched his head and thought for a moment before replying, "They are all my family."
Yingzi suddenly understood. "Is this Aunt Er Niu? And are these three your children?"
Lin Ruixue's face turned red. Yingzi referred to her as Aunt Er Niu.
Qi Zhenzhen found it both amusing and exasperating. She and Lin Ruixue looked nothing alike, nor did they appear to be the age to have a daughter as old as her.
A hint of smugness flickered in Zhang Er Niu's heart. Did Sister Lin look so much like his wife?
"Yingzi, I'm not Aunt Er Niu," Lin Ruixue explained generously. "And they are not your Uncle Er Niu's children either."
Zhang Er Niu playfully poked Yingzi's head. "This little girl, she's my sister. This is her son, and these two are my younger sister and brother."
Zhang Er Niu introduced them one by one.
Yingzi playfully stuck out her tongue, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Lin Ruixue smiled at Yingzi. "It's alright, it was just a misunderstanding. Now that you know, you won't misunderstand in the future."
After the meal, Zhang Er Niu paid for seven bowls of wontons, costing thirty-five wen.
As they were about to leave, Aunt Lu took off her apron and walked over, greeting everyone.
"Auntie, the wontons are delicious, but the broth could be better. Broth is very important for wontons. I noticed yours is just clear water. Why not try simmering some bone broth? A milky broth, add some dried scallop powder, a drop of soy sauce, and garnish with chopped scallions. If you increase the price by one wen per bowl, I think more people will eat them," Qi Zhenzhen said with a smile. "The difference between clear broth and bone broth is immediately apparent, and if the taste is better, people will willingly pay even if it's a bit more expensive."
Aunt Lu pondered this. She hadn't really thought about it before. If she followed the young girl's advice, would business really improve?
"Aunt Lu, why not try it as Zhenzhen suggested? It's just a trial. How about this, I'll give you a few large bones, and I'll also send over some dried scallop powder. You can try it first, and if it doesn't work, we can discuss it again," Zhang Er Niu said after thinking.
Aunt Lu eagerly waved her hands. "No, no, that won't do. I'll prepare the ingredients myself. I'll go prepare them after closing today and make the change tomorrow morning." The same few people came for breakfast repeatedly, and Aunt Lu knew that they were all aware of her difficult life, but these customers also had their own struggles. She could accept their help now, but she couldn't always rely on it. She still needed to find a way to improve her business, just as the young girl had suggested.
Zhang Er Niu didn't insist on giving her the ingredients. He only mentioned that he would come for wontons again early the next morning.
The shop was not far from the wonton stall. The group said goodbye to Aunt Lu and headed back.
Zhang Er Niu removed the wooden boards blocking the entrance one by one. The shop opposite was also opening. "Er Niu, opening so early today, are you ready to start business?"
"Not yet, it will take another two days. Let me introduce you, these two are my sisters, and they will be running the noodle shop with me. These two youngsters are going to study at Songhe Academy in town."
Regardless of where they were, scholars were highly respected.
"Songhe Academy is excellent. I heard that last year, four of Songhe Academy's students passed the imperial examinations and became Xiucai!"
"It's not easy to get into Songhe Academy. These two boys are capable. Er Niu, when you become successful, don't forget us old neighbors."
Zhang Er Niu chatted familiarly with them, while Qi Zhenzhen and Lin Ruixue nodded to the people and entered the shop.
Zhang Er Niu had already prepared a good amount of wheat flour. Since it was for long-term use, he had also arranged for a long-term supplier. The meat and bones were sourced from acquaintances, the cousin couple of Butcher Zhang, who Qi Zhenzhen had previously delivered wild game to in town. They would deliver fresh meat and bones daily.
The dried scallop powder was ground by the Lin family themselves. In addition, they needed to prepare chili sauce and soybean paste.
The chili sauce was made fresh, and the soybean paste was made by Qi Zhenzhen earlier. A large vat was fermented perfectly and would last for quite some time. During this period, fermenting more soybean paste would not be delayed.
Vinegar was also essential for noodles, and vinegar varied in quality. Cheap vinegar was two jin for one wen, while better fragrant vinegar was one jin for two wen. The quality of the vinegar directly affected the taste of the noodles. For the shop to establish itself, the ingredients could not be compromised.
Meat was needed long-term. Pork belly was priced at fourteen wen per jin, a full two wen cheaper than the market price of sixteen wen. The bones were considered a bonus and were free.
Additionally, firewood also cost money. Considering all the miscellaneous expenses, a bowl of plain noodles would be sold for eight wen, and a bowl with meat for ten wen. This would ensure a profit of two wen per bowl.
After carefully calculating several times and confirming there were no errors, Qi Zhenzhen showed the calculated list to Lin Ruixue.
A profit of two wen per bowl, only twenty wen for ten bowls. It seemed a bit low. Compared to the profit from pickled cabbage, it was significantly less. After all this effort, not to mention other expenses, it was unclear when the shop's investment would be recouped.
"Therefore, we can't just sell noodles. Look, our shop is named 'Mian Mian Ju Dao' (meaning 'considerate in all aspects'), so we must live up to the name and satisfy our customers. It's winter now, and men like to drink a little wine. We are next to a wine shop, so wine is not a problem. In winter, people drink warm wine. What if we offer a service to warm the wine? And when drinking, there must be snacks to accompany it. Braised dishes are the most suitable. We can prepare a pot of old braising liquid, which can not only be used to braise meat for noodles but also chicken feet, chicken wings, chicken gizzards, and so on. Tofu and other items can also be braised. The braised meat can also be sliced and sold. Generally, people who are willing to drink outside won't be too particular about the accompanying dishes," Qi Zhenzhen said calmly. "The profit per bowl of noodles is limited, but the profit from snacks is much larger. One jin of pork can yield four liang of braised meat. Four liang can be sliced into a plate and sold for twenty wen per plate, how about that?"
Lin Ruixue's eyes lit up. Calculating it this way, as long as the braised dishes sold, the profit would be considerable.
"In addition, we will also make Rou Jia Mo (meat burgers). Each one sells for six wen, with a profit of two wen. Compared to pickled cabbage, the profit is less, but Auntie, don't forget that pickled cabbage lasts at most four months, while the noodle shop operates year-round," Qi Zhenzhen calculated.