Chapter 24 The big benefactor
Tong Huaqiong listened to the young man recommending his own mung bean cake to people around him, and she wanted to burn some incense to offer to him.
What a funny guy this is!
Not everyone may be willing to take a fancy to her stall, but that doesn’t mean everyone is unwilling to take advantage of it.
Free tasting, how tempting!
If you don't take advantage of it, you're a bastard!
Even though Tong Huaqiong was poisoned by all kinds of marketing methods used by merchants in later generations, when she saw new products available for free tasting in the supermarket, she would still go over to try them!
Not to mention the people here.
There will be no food tasting at Sushiyuan, the main focus is to buy it if you want.
When the people queuing at the Sushiyuan stall heard that they could try the food for free, there was indeed a commotion, and many people at the end of the line left the line and gathered in front of Tong Huaqiong's stall.
"Can I really try your mung bean cake for free?" asked an old lady in the crowd.
"Old sister, please try it and see if it tastes good. It's okay if you don't buy it."
Tong Huaqiong picked up a small piece of mung bean cake and handed it to the old lady's mouth.
Compared to the young man, she is happier that the aunt is willing to patronize her stall.
The aunties have a natural ability to spread information. Just like in later generations, they know where to get free eggs or which supermarket has discounts on rice, flour, grain and oil.
“You can taste it even if you don’t buy it!”
The crowd immediately erupted in uproar.
“It tastes good to me.”
It’s free, you’d be a fool not to eat it!
Anyway, if they got sick from eating in broad daylight, the mother and daughter would not be in any good situation, so the old lady swallowed the mung bean cake handed to her by Tong Huaqiong without hesitation.
Then gave a slightly conservative evaluation.
But Tong Huaqiong could tell from the old lady's expression that she was a little surprised at the deliciousness of the mung bean cake. She knew very well that the reason she gave such a conservative evaluation was that it was just to warm up for bargaining.
Just like in her previous life, when her mother took her shopping for clothes, no matter how satisfied she was, she would always find fault with them.
She knows all the tricks.
Sure enough, your aunt is your aunt. The aunties on this land have always been extremely powerful in combat from ancient times to the present.
"That's not bad, old sister. The ingredients in my mung bean cake are very solid. You feel that it is sweeter and more fragrant than usual. For these mung bean cakes, guess how much sugar I used? A full two kilograms of sugar."
Now the people who gathered around became even more interested.
What kind of family background is this? They actually used two kilograms of sugar to make this little mung bean cake.
When sugar is flour.
"Yes, it's a little sweeter than what I had before." The old lady nodded.
"How much?" asked the old lady.
"We are a small business and can sell in retail. The mung bean cake is six cents a piece, the mung bean cake is eight cents a piece, and the dry cake is three cents a piece. How many do you want, auntie?" Gu Taohua said happily.
Good, after quoting the price, we all know that the deal has been made!
Tong Huaqiong was very satisfied with the performance of her fat daughter.
"This is a bit expensive." There was a shrewd light in the old lady's eyes.
They were all aunts, and they understood each other's thoughts. Tong Huaqiong took the aunt's hand and said earnestly: "Old sister, it's delicious. You can buy two pieces first. To be honest, we have been worrying about the family for half a lifetime. Let alone six cents a piece, even if this mung bean cake is made of gold and you buy it to eat, can your children at home say a word against you?"
Sure enough, with just a few words, the old lady made Tong Huaqiong her close friend.
Of course, she has worked hard for half her life, can she not have the decision to eat a piece of mung bean cake?
So he clapped the coins in his waist and said, "My children are all filial. If they were not, I would not have come here early in the morning to queue up to buy mung bean cakes. But sister, your mung bean cakes are delicious, but they are indeed not cheap. The reason I came to your stall is that the queue at Sushiyuan is too long. I have to buy them quickly and go home to dry my clothes."
"If you don't give me a discount, I won't be in a hurry. I'll come to Sushiyuan in the afternoon to queue up just the same."
This is the tug-of-war over bargaining.
Tong Huaqiong really couldn't let her go, so she said with an embarrassed look: "I call you sister, please don't embarrass me, my elder sister. My husband died early, and it's not easy to bring my daughter to sell cakes."
Tong Huaqiong finished her pity and then whispered, "How about this, if you buy two mung bean cakes and two mung bean biscuits, I'll give you a dry biscuit. Just look at the sesame seeds sprinkled on the dry biscuit to know how solid the ingredients are. This way you won't suffer a loss, and I won't lose money either."
The old lady was persuaded by Tong Huaqiong and took out a copper coin and said, "Okay, let's do it this way."
Gu Taohua collected the money, and Tong Huaqiong packed the mung bean cakes, mung bean biscuits and dry biscuits and handed them to the old lady.
Before leaving, the old lady tried two more mung bean cakes from the sample box.
The old lady never misses any bargain!
No, there must be a rule for the tasting boxes. Each person can only try one piece. Otherwise, Tong Huaqiong will be robbed of all the food before her business even opens.
Then, led by the old lady, many people came forward to try the food.
After trying it, I couldn't stop buying it.
Firstly, the mung bean cakes are really delicious; secondly, they can be sold in small quantities, which can reduce pressure; thirdly, Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua are not only clean people, but they also keep their stall very clean, which makes people feel at ease.
Therefore, business is booming!
Soon, only a layer of mung bean cakes were left in the basket.
"I'll take care of the rest of yours."
A middle-aged man with a fan, a protruding belly and a short neck finished tasting the food and pointed at the mung bean cakes and mung bean pastries in the basket with his fan.
Tong Huaqiong was delighted.
I think of the famous quote from a skit: a man with a big head and short neck is either a cook or a wealthy man. Judging from the silk and satin on this middle-aged man, he must be a wealthy man!
Logically, Tong Huaqiong would be very happy if someone bought all the remaining mung bean cakes.
But this time, Tong Huaqiong didn't want to do that.
Because of her free tasting, quite a few people gathered around her.
If she sold all the remaining mung bean cakes to the rich men, the rest of the people would be lost.
What is the difference between this and Sushiyuan keeping all the remaining mung bean cakes and giving them to wealthy officials?
She must create a fair and just persona.
"This Mr. Huang is really something. If you have money, go to Sushiyuan to buy it. Why are you competing with us?"
The murmurs in the crowd made Tong Huaqiong more determined in her decision.
"Mr. Huang, I am grateful that you have the utmost respect for me and are willing to take care of my small business. No wonder people say that Mr. Huang is the most compassionate to the poor and the weak. Today I see that he is indeed a good person."
Tong Huaqiong smiled and complimented Mr. Huang.
Just like in later generations when you meet a rich man, you call him boss. Here, it is absolutely right to call him master.
When Mr. Huang heard Tong Huaqiong's praise, he puffed out his belly with joy.
It seems that word of his kindness has spread, and even the widows who have never seen him know about it.
"But I can only sell you eight of each mung bean cake." Tong Huaqiong said.
What?
There is no reason to chase someone away after he has delivered himself to your door.
Mr. Huang didn't understand. He just thought that this widow was not smart enough to do business like this.
"Master Huang, it's not that I don't want to sell them all to you. It's mainly because everyone wants to try them. Can you buy eight first and leave the rest for others? If it were someone else, I wouldn't dare to ask for it. It's because I heard that Master Huang is the most amiable that I opened my mouth."
After Tong Huaqiong finished speaking, Mr. Huang's emotions stabilized.
It seems that this widow is a kind-hearted person and is considering other customers.
Forget it, just do as this widow requested. Her mung bean cakes are indeed more delicious than those from Sushiyuan.
Unfortunately, the mung bean cakes at Sushiyuan were sold out.
He had just inquired secretly and learned that the confiscated mung bean cakes were given to Mr. Hong. He had never been on good terms with Mr. Hong, and after learning the truth, he had opinions about Sushiyuan.
"Okay, let's do as you say." Mr. Huang said, fanning himself.
"I'm not like some people who don't make reservations in advance and wait until everyone else is lining up to buy the mung bean cakes. Are they trying to show off how rich they are?" Mr. Huang took the opportunity to step on Mr. Hong.
Tong Huaqiong smiled and said, "Not everyone is as broad-minded as Master Huang. Master Huang, if you like the food, please order it from me in advance and I will make it for you and send it to your door."
With such a big financial backer, it would not be Tong Huaqiong's style if she didn't cling to him tightly.
Huang Yuanwai was really happy after hearing this and said, "Can you make other cakes? My mother is having her birthday in seven days and I want to order some cakes. She thinks that the whole Pingchuan County only eats these few kinds of cakes. If you can make different ones, I will give you all the cakes for my mother's birthday."
Tong Huaqiong's eyes lit up. That must be possible.