Chapter 45 - 045 All Taken
Chang Yuanda’s heart suddenly warmed up, catching up in a hurry, “Just on the street, not far diagonally across from Fushun Tower, two young girls, you can see them at a glance.”
“However, brother-in-law, I understand your intentions and worries about the family business, but you shouldn’t be too impulsive.”
As Chang Yuanda chased after behind, he persuaded, “The fact that the business of Changji Tofu Shop was taken away is not something honorable. If you go and question them in such way, it will make our tofu shop look bad, intolerant of others and it will eventually affect our tofu shop.”
“We should consider other ways, it’s best to think thrice before acting…”
As Chang Yuanda was babbling here, he looked up and saw Zhang Yongchang had already left the courtyard, heading straight for the tofu stall.
This Zhang the Stirrer!
Everything is good about him, but he has a wheat-straw temperament, stubborn, determined to do what he has set his mind on, never listen to others, not even if ten bulls are pulling him back!
Now that he’s going so bluntly to find trouble with the tofu stall, won’t others gossip and seek to break the backbone of Changji Tofu Shop?
Chang Yuanda thought about it on the spot for a while, and decided it would be better to stand aside and watch for a while.
If Zhang Yongchang really starts messing with people, he can go and mediate later, which would also show that he is sensible, and give the tofu shop a good reputation.
If Zhang Yongchang persuaded the tofu seller directly to retreat, that would be the best, he could just sit and wait for the tofu shop to benefit.
Anyway, he wouldn’t jump into this muddy water, just waiting for the following developments would be best.
While Chang Yuanda was waiting here, Zhang Yongchang had already arrived at the tofu stall run by Zhuang Qingning.
“How much tofu do you want?”
Zhuang Qingning was busy, so Zhuang Qingsui came to greet this man who had panted up to their stall to buy tofu. When she looked up and saw the gloomy face of Zhang Yongchang, she jumped and dropped the tofu knife in her hand into the basket, hiding behind Zhuang Qingning.
Seeing this, Zhuang Qingning patted Zhuang Qingsui’s back of hand, signaling her not to be afraid, then she looked at Zhang Yongchang and asked, “Do you want tofu?”
“What else could i buy here, eggs?” Zhang Yongchang was somewhat dissatisfied with Zhuang Qingning’s words: “Even though you’re not that old, your speech is so annoying, just hurry up, cut two pounds of tofu, let me taste it.”
Zhuang Qingning’s eyebrows involuntarily raised a bit.
For this person who was clearly hostile, Zhuang Qingning still decided to be prudent, and just picked up the plate with the tofu cubes neatly arranged: “It seems this is your first time buying tofu from us, you can taste it first, if you like the taste, you can buy it, if you don’t like the taste, you don’t have to buy.”
Clarifying this in advance will help the other party decide whether to buy or not, to avoid any complaints afterwards.
Zhang Yongchang didn’t say anything, just frowned, picked up a piece of tofu and chewed it.
The more he chewed, the deeper his brow furrowed, and his expression became more serious.
Yes, it was this taste. The braised tofu he had tasted at Ruyi Pavilion, it was this taste — fragrant, rich, and with enough deliciousness that made people want more after eating it.
“This tofu of yours…” Zhang Yongchang sat up straight, his eyes full of joy as he scanned the tofu in the basket: “How much is left? I’ll take it all.”
It looked like he really came to buy tofu.
Zhuang Qingning breathed a sigh of relief and said, “There should be about thirty pounds of tofu left. 1’11 weigh it for you.”
“There’s no need, let’s count it as thirty-five pounds.” Zhang Yongchang took out his money bag: “It’s one coin per pound, right?”
Zhang Yongchang counted the money while he spoke and handed it over: “Here, thirty-five coins.”
Zhuang Qingning didn’t reach out to take it: “1 sell my tofu at one coin per pound, two coins for two and a half pounds, thirty-something pounds of tofu, that’s twenty-four coins. You gave too much.”
“That’s fair of you.” Zhang Yongchang tugged at the corner of his mouth: “No wonder you are able to snatch the business from Changji Tofu Shop.”
“All right, thirty-five coins, just keep it, 1’11 take your bamboo basket, and you can go back and prepare a new one.”
Having said that, he stuffed the money into Zhuang Qingning’s hand, picked up the bamboo basket and turned to leave.
A bamboo basket is probably worth about seven to eight coins, and the tofu is also over thirty pounds, so it seems a fair trade. Therefore, Zhuang Qingning didn’t insist further, and just collected the money.
“By the way.” Zhang Yongchang, who had walked a few steps, turned back to add: “1 need thirty pounds, uh no, forty pounds of tofu every day.”
“Okay,” Zhuang Qingning nodded, “But 1 don’t take reservations for my tofu usually, it’s sold directly. If you come late, it might be sold out. So, it’s best to come and buy early.”
“Or if you prefer, I can deliver it to you.”
Forty pounds of tofu a day would make him currently the biggest customer of Zhuang Qingning’s, and he is indeed a big spender. Zhuang Qingning felt that she could offer delivery service for such a customer.
“Delivery works too, it’s not far.” Zhang Yongchang pointed towards Fushun Tower: “When you arrive in the morning, just deliver the tofu there, just say that Chef Zhang ordered it, someone will pay you.”
Zhuang Qingning was both surprised and delighted to find that the customer was the head chef of Fushun Tower.
“Alright, 1’11 deliver it first thing tomorrow,” Zheng Qingning promised cheerfully, “You can count on me.”
“Yes, don’t forget.” Zhang Yongchang finished his instructions, lifted his bamboo basket, and left contentedly.
Zhuang Qingning watched Zhang Yongchang leave, and carefully put the money into the money bag, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but turn up.
Before, she was deceived when she went door to door selling tofu, but now the chef comes personally to buy tofu. The contrast between then and now proves that her approach of relying on word-of-mouth marketing and waiting for big customers to come to her was correct.
“Sister.” Zhuang Qingning also smiled and said, “Even Fushun Tower buys tofu from us now, that shows how tasty our tofu is.”
“Of course.” Zhuang Qingning raised her chin, messed up Zhuang Qingsui’s hair and joked: “Our craftsmanship is indeed impeccable.”
“Exactly, the taste of your tofu is indeed very good, I’m sure you’ll be able to sell it better than Changji Tofu Shop in the future.” Mrs. Liu also started laughing, “1 reckon, you may be able to sell this tofu all the way to the county town, you may not even be able to meet the demand with the tofu you grind everyday!”
“Hope so, let’s hope your words come true.” Zhuang Qingning’s eyes were smiling brightly.
Because Zhang the Stirrer had bought out all the tofu, the tofu finished even earlier than expected. Zhuang Qingning didn’t want to stick around, so she just took Zhuang Qingsui for a walk around and bought some stuff on the street, found a bullock cart afterwards, and returned home early.
Make lunch, take a nap, and get ready for a new round of work in the evening.
On the other hand, Zhang Yongchang with the bamboo basket, returned to the backyard of the Fushun Tower.. Chang Yuanda, who had been waiting, rushed up to meet him, his eyes wide and his face full of difficulty: “Brother-in-law, did you cause trouble at their stall?”