The summer heat made one lose their appetite, which was perfectly normal.
Luo Yunshi sat at a table outside the shop, slurping down cold noodles with gusto. Then she took a bite of a meat sandwich, savoring it, and washed it down with a refreshing plum juice that made her feel invigorated, a picture of contentment.
Watching the pretty young girl eat so heartily in the sweltering heat, many passersby who had lost their appetite earlier found themselves curious.
"Don't miss out, don't miss out! A new food shop has opened! We have sweet and sour cold noodles, cold mixed noodles, hot and crispy meat sandwiches, and refreshing drinks that will invigorate you. Come and try them!"
Da Li, the talkative robot, proved to be very useful, constantly shouting at the entrance to attract customers.
Even standing at the entrance, one could see that the shop's decor was different from other establishments.
The yellow and green wallpaper gave a cool impression. Ice was placed inside the shop, and standing at the entrance, one could feel a cool and comfortable breeze.
There were eight clean and tidy tables lining both sides of the shop walls. Near the entrance, to the side, was the food preparation area where food was made on the spot.
Realistic food pictures adorned the walls, with some of them featuring the dishes being sold today.
"Wow, they have ice in here, it's so cool! The paintings on the wall are so lifelike, they make me hungry just looking at them. Give me the same food as this young lady." The wealthy customer, unconcerned about the price, pulled out his money pouch and ordered immediately.
"Certainly! One serving of cold noodles. Would you like it sweet and sour or savory? With extra sesame paste and chili?" Butler Xing San asked with a smile.
"Hmm... just like this young lady's is fine," the customer replied.
"Got it, please wait a moment."
On-site preparation made customers feel more at ease as they could witness the entire process.
Pieces of gluten, semi-transparent cold noodles cut into wide strips, along with shredded cucumber, cilantro, and crushed peanuts were placed in a large basin. Sesame paste, garlic juice, soy sauce, vinegar, chili oil, and other seasonings were added and mixed thoroughly. The cold noodles were then ready.
Making the meat sandwiches was even simpler.
The shop only sold these four items, so the preparation speed was very fast.
The cold noodles were served in a large bowl. The meat sandwiches, wrapped in oil paper, were presented on a large plate along with the plum juice. The customer took one bite and was amazed.
The rich sesame paste coated the shredded cucumber and cold noodles. It was sweet, sour, and refreshing, immediately whetting his appetite.
The meat sandwiches were palm-sized and exuded a fragrant aroma of meat. The crispy crust was filled with finely chopped braised pork. Taking a bite and chewing slowly, the crisp bun and braised meat blended together. The braising liquid from the meat seeped into the bun, filling the mouth with fragrance and unparalleled satisfaction.
The plum juice had ice in it. Taking a sip, a wave of coolness traveled down the throat to the stomach, making one feel refreshed and invigorated. Their pores seemed to open, and a sense of relief dispelled the heat.
"Delicious, delicious!" the customer praised while eating, thoroughly enjoying himself. After finishing, he bought three more servings to take away before leaving.
More and more customers flocked to the shop. In less than an hour, the 100 portions of food prepared were sold out.
"They sold out so quickly! Are you closing already? Can't you make more? We're willing to pay extra."
"The ladies of the households were waiting for this! How can it be sold out already?"
"Everyone, all the goods we prepared are sold out. Please come back tomorrow," Xing Yi said before closing the door.
With no other recourse, the customers grumbled their dissatisfaction and left, secretly resolving to arrive earlier the next day.
In less than a day, "You Jia" Food Shop had become a sensation.
Afterward, when people inquired about the shop's name, they would ask, "Hey, what's that shop called?"
Those who knew would smile and reply, "You Jia Food Shop."
The inquirer would then retort, "I know it's You Jia Food Shop, but what is that food shop's name?"
"It's just You Jia Food Shop!"
...
Luo Yunshi asked Da Li to find a way to spread the news about the delicious food at You Jia Food Shop to the Liu family, then returned to the backyard.
The next day, in addition to the original four items, the shop added instant noodles that could be prepared at home.
The fried instant noodles could be eaten dry after adding seasoning, or they could be rehydrated with boiling water, or even boiled.
Luo Yunshi, as yesterday, sat by the door, leisurely enjoying her spicy pork noodles as if she were live-streaming her meal.
The pork chunks were of similar size, sprinkled over the noodles with chopped scallions and diced carrots, emitting an irresistible aroma.
The Jasmine milk tea blended the fragrance of tea and milk, rich and creamy, leaving a lingering taste on the lips.
The shop had developed several flavors of seasoning sauces: braised pork, spicy pork, hot and spicy pork, and savory braised pork.
The seasonings came in powder and paste packets, in small, medium, and large sizes.
The small portion was for one person, the medium was enough for a person for half a month, and the large was enough for a person for a month.
All were sealed in small bamboo tubes and could be stored for up to a month, making them perfect for travel.
"Shopkeeper, these instant noodles are so convenient! Can we collaborate? I'll take a large quantity," a merchant, having tasted the instant noodles and sauces, spotted a business opportunity and quickly asked.
Luo Yunshi, eager to promote the instant noodles further, readily agreed. Thus, all collaboration matters were handed over to the shopkeeper, Xing Yi.
The Liu family soon sent a servant to buy several portions of cold noodles, seasoning sauces, and instant noodles to take away. All the goods prepared by the shop were sold out again, and the shop closed early at noon.
On the third day, the shop offered more items. Clear broth, old hen soup, and mushroom stewed chicken flavored instant noodles. Before the shop even opened, the entrance was already crowded with customers.
Some enterprising breakfast shops nearby even bought the sauces. Those who couldn't develop their own instant noodles would boil regular noodles, use less sauce in the broth, add some cheap vegetables, and sell them. Many common people bought a bowl of noodles for its affordability and taste.
On the fourth day, You Jia Food Shop launched new products: savory, five-spice, and spicy pork jerky, chicken jerky, duck jerky, and dried tofu. They had a long shelf life and were perfect as snacks.
On the fifth day, new items were introduced: sour and appetizing boneless chicken feet, and sour and spicy noodles.
On the sixth day, various chicken and duck products were released.
On the seventh day, various pork and chicken sausages, and cured sausages were introduced.
To avoid arousing suspicion from those with ill intentions, Luo Yunshi purchased all available ingredients in this world from local suppliers. The success of one shop directly boosted the business of many merchants, while also impacting the business of quite a few others.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Despite the envy and jealousy of some shopkeepers who resorted to underhanded tactics to bring down the shop, all their attempts were easily thwarted.
The county magistrate, who was just and had a fondness for good food, kept this information known only to his family. He dealt severely with those who framed or slandered You Jia Food Shop, causing many shopkeepers with ulterior motives to rein in their ambitions and focus instead on developing dishes similar to those at You Jia Food Shop.
Luo Yunshi was pleased to see this development.
The shop's business boomed, becoming the most renowned establishment in the county town.
Through word-of-mouth from passing merchants and common folk, many people from outside the area came to visit out of curiosity.
* * *
One day, Luo's mother and father called again.
Luo's mother: "Daughter, your dad hit his head and no longer needs to pretend to be foolish."
"Is that so? That's great! What did you do with that Cai Lian?"
Upon hearing this question, Luo's mother became animated. "Heavens, you don't know until you ask, and you'll be shocked when you do."