Chapter 11 Greed
But the vegetarian filling with eggs is different, and adding tofu makes it feel like great value for money.

"Then buy the leeks and tofu together when you go to buy meat tomorrow morning," said Mrs. Lu.

"I'm afraid we have to go buy it now." Xia Mingyue said with a smile, "The leeks we buy tomorrow morning are freshly cut and have too much moisture. If the stuffing we mix has too much moisture, it will not taste good. We need to buy it today and put it in the house to dry overnight so that the moisture of the leeks is just right."

Mrs. Lu suddenly realized, "No wonder the leek buns I steamed before were soggy inside and tasted bad. It turned out that the leeks were too fresh. I have to try it according to what my sister-in-law said next time."

"Then sister-in-law will try it next time." Xia Mingyue answered with a smile, and then went to the street with Lu to find farmers selling leeks.

In spring, everything grows. Chives grow quite fast and are not as thick as in summer. This is the time when they become tender.

Select and wash them, spread them out in a cool place to dry, and when you get up the next morning, chop them into small pieces, mix them with chopped fried tofu, scrambled eggs, starched vermicelli and blanched mung bean sprouts, and season them with salt, hot oil, soy sauce and pepper.

Wrap the dough, make the pancake, fry it in a pan...

When I set up the stall today, I used two baskets. The cakes in the baskets were piled up a little because of the large number.

Before Lu started shouting out his wares, regular customers had already gathered around him.

Black vegetable meat pie is still very popular, and the newly launched leek, egg, tofu and vermicelli pie has also attracted many people to buy it because it is priced at six cents each.

The chives are spicy, the eggs and tofu are fresh, the vermicelli is soft and sticky, and the mung bean sprouts add a fresh and crisp taste to the vegetarian filling...

"I have always loved meat, but I never thought that this vegetarian pancake could be so delicious."

The person who spoke was Qian, the owner of a small cosmetics shop on West Street, who kept stuffing the cake in his hand into his mouth.

Bite and chew.

"Since Shopkeeper Qian thinks it's delicious, you have to come and support it more often in the future." Xia Mingyue said with a smile.

"Of course." Shopkeeper Qian nodded repeatedly, "Madam Xia, please come to our store more often in the future."

"Hey, hey, hey." After wrapping a scallion meat pie for a customer, Mrs. Lu took the time to speak, "I say, Shopkeeper Qian is a businessman after all, how can he be so careless in his words and deeds?"

"What do you mean, Madam Lu?" Shopkeeper Qian was a little confused.

"You only invited Madam Xia to go shopping more, why didn't you invite me to go with you? Isn't this inconsiderate?" Mrs. Lu's eyes were raised, "Do you think I'm too thick-skinned to need makeup, or do you think I'm stingy and don't want to spend money?"

"How could that be possible?" Shopkeeper Qian said with a smile, "But since Madam Lu asked, I'll tell you the truth. Madam Xia is indeed pretty and charming. She's a young lady and a newlywed to Captain Lu, so it's reasonable for her to use more makeup."

"As for Madam Lu, she is a beauty on our West Street. She is pretty and many people like her. Captain Zhao is already worried about her. If I let Madam Lu buy cosmetics and dress up, won't Captain Zhao come to my shop with a big knife and hit me by the collar?"

"I'm a timid person, so I don't dare to provoke Captain Zhao." Shopkeeper Qian's eyes narrowed into slits as he smiled, "So naturally I don't dare to ask Madam Lu to visit our shop more often."

Qian's flattery made Mrs. Lu's face smile like a flower, but she also added, "Don't think I believe you just because you said that. Let me make it clear first, no matter how many cakes you buy, I won't give you a discount."

"Madam Xia, these pancakes are delicious and worth every penny. It's good enough that I didn't pay you too much. How can I get more for it?" Shopkeeper Qian took out his purse while speaking. "Madam Xia, please help me get two more black vegetable meat pancakes and one scallion meat pancake. I'll take them back to eat."

"Okay." Xia Mingyue took the money, took out the oil paper and helped Manager Qian get the meat pie.

"Ms. Xia's cooking skills are impeccable, and the food she makes must taste great too. Will you sell other food in the future?" Shopkeeper Qian tried to inquire.

"I should sell this first for a while and see how the business goes before making any plans."

Shopkeeper Qian's business is not big, but he is well-known as a kind shopkeeper on West Street. He is also a very honest and loyal person. He has been supporting Xia Mingyue for the past few days, so Xia Mingyue told him the truth.

"Then Madam Xia, if you plan to sell other food in the future, you must tell me in advance so that I can come out with an empty stomach in advance."

Shopkeeper Qian smiled and said, "If Madam Xia wants to set up a bigger stall and needs help, you may as well ask. Although the front of my shop is small, the wall to the right of the door is quite spacious. If we set up a shed there, the land is quite spacious and the location is not bad."

"If Shopkeeper Qian has this intention, then I would be more than happy to help. When I plan to set up a bigger stall, I will go find Shopkeeper Qian. Shopkeeper Qian, please don't complain that my food stall is noisy." Xia Mingyue said with a smile.

"How could that be? If Madam Xia could set up a stall in front of my shop to do business, I could eat delicious food as soon as I go out, and I could save the trouble of walking a long way. I'm really looking forward to that!"

Shopkeeper Qian laughed heartily, "Okay, Madam Xia, please get busy first. I'll go back first."

"Treasurer Qian, take care."

"I didn't know that Shopkeeper Qian was so greedy before." Mrs. Lu moved closer to Xia Mingyue. "In order to have more delicious food, he is willing to use the empty space at the door for you to sell food."

Most shops do not want those small stalls to be at their doorsteps, for fear that they would rob the shop of its wealth, block its fortune, and cause noise that would affect the customers who come to the shop.

"I think this shopkeeper Qian is not greedy, but he knows how to do business." Xia Mingyue said with a smile, "The shopkeeper Qian's shop has been in the county for quite a while, and basically everyone in the county knows about it, but those who don't come to the city often don't easily notice his shop."

"If we can sell food in front of his house, there will be a lot of people, and it will inevitably attract more people to stop by. Naturally, they will pay more attention to his shop, and maybe some people will come to buy his inexpensive and high-quality cosmetics."

"That makes sense!" Mrs. Lu nodded repeatedly. "No wonder Manager Qian always comes to support us these days. I really thought he was a greedy guy, but I never thought he was smart. But my sister-in-law is smarter and can think of what he thinks."

"Sister-in-law, please stop teasing me..."

The two men were chatting and laughing, but Shopkeeper Qian had already slowly returned to the shop.

His wife Liu was smilingly seeing off a customer who had just bought a small box of lip balm. When she saw Manager Qian coming back, her face visibly darkened.

After the guest left, Liu squinted her eyes and asked, "Go buy some cakes again?"

"Madam Xia just sold some chive, egg, tofu and vermicelli pancakes today. They tasted good, so I went to try one." Shopkeeper Qian smiled rather flatteringly, "I also brought you your favorite meat pie. Eat it while it's hot."

　Seeking support~

　　
　
(End of this chapter)