Chapter 260 Mutual Appreciation
"My mother-in-law is a very honest person. She doesn't keep secrets from us. We can't reveal the method she told us."
After leaving Tong Huaqiong's house, Zhao and Aunt Qin went home together. After praising Tong Huaqiong, Zhao reminded Aunt Qin not to reveal the matter of castrating the pig.
If someone finds out, I don’t know what kind of trouble it will cause.
Previously, Xu Zaohua and Xu Yong caused a big fuss over the medicine for ear rot.
Aunt Qin glanced at Zhao and said, "You underestimate me too much. I won't let anyone know."
Her son and daughter-in-law all work with Tong Huaqiong.
Since they went to work in Tong Huaqiong's shop, their family life has improved greatly and they have saved some money.
Aunt Qin wished that Tong Huaqiong's family would become more and more prosperous. Only in that way could her son and daughter-in-law get to enjoy the soup.
As for Tong Huaqiong, is she afraid that they will steal her business?
Tong Huaqiong is not afraid.
Both the Liu family and the Qin family are honest families and have never thought about doing business.
For those who have been working in the fields and following the small peasant economy, it will not be easy to change their mindsets and start doing business.
What's more, doing business is not easy. It requires capital and connections.
Besides, raising pigs is not easy.
If an African swine fever occurs, the entire pig farm may be ruined.
The money invested will be lost, so it is even more impossible for farmers to invest easily.
It would have taken so many years for the Qinghewan to open up, and it was not until Tong Huaqiong came that people started to do business and open shops in Yanguan Town.
No one had ever thought of doing business in town before, let alone building a farm in the village.
In the evening, Gu Taohua, Chen Sufen and others returned home from Taohua Dessert.
Everyone has met Han and Lu Zhaozhao.
Han looked at them and sighed in her heart, lamenting that Tong Huaqiong had both sons and daughters and many descendants. Unlike the Liu family, which had few members and County Magistrate Liu was often not at home, the whole family was often deserted.
Lu Zhaozhao also envied the hustle and bustle of the Gu family. The Lu family was not even as good as the Liu family. Old Master Lu was out doing business 300 days out of 365 days a year, and Lu Zhaoyang studied at Wanliu Academy every day and didn't go home often. Therefore, Lu Zhaozhao was often the only one in the entire huge Lu residence.
"Mom, let me tell you, our mooncakes are in great demand again, especially the ones with egg yolk and lotus seed paste filling. The supply is in short supply and there's smoke coming out of the bakery." Gu Taohua said excitedly while sitting next to Tong Huaqiong.
Tong Huaqiong was not surprised at all.
Needless to say, every time she came up with a pastry recipe, people in Yanguan Town would line up to buy it.
From the meat dumplings on the Dragon Boat Festival to the colorful lotus cakes on the Chinese Valentine’s Day, everyone looks forward to the appearance of new and different peach blossom desserts during festivals.
There are still more than ten days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, and many people have already been eyeing Taohua Dessert, or coming to Taohua Dessert to inquire about the new pastries.
In the past two days, Taohua Dessert has officially started selling mooncakes. Mooncakes with various unique shapes and rich fillings have attracted people to buy mooncakes.
Nowadays in the Yanguan Town area, bringing peach blossom desserts when visiting relatives and friends during festivals has become a standard.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a very important traditional festival. People are keen to visit relatives and friends for reunion, so it is not surprising that Taohua Dessert’s mooncakes are so popular.
In addition to the mooncakes themselves, Tong Huaqiong also put a lot of effort into the packaging.
However, it is not the kind of packaging in later generations where the box is more expensive than the mooncake, which is like buying the box and returning the pearl.
Instead, it took the route of simplicity and elegance.
The simple oil paper depicts the full moon, Chang'e and the Jade Rabbit, with poems and songs about Mid-Autumn Festival reunion inscribed next to it.
This is irresistible to literate people who pursue elegance. Not only that, ordinary illiterate housewives also love the mooncakes packaged in this way by Taohua Dessert. After eating the mooncakes, they can use the wrapping paper to paste the windows, without the need for painting, because it comes with its own color painting.
In addition to packaged mooncakes, Taohua Dessert also retains loose mooncakes.
Strive to capture different mooncake audience groups in Yanguan Town.
"Everyone says our mooncakes are delicious. Even the five-nut and red bean paste ones are sold out." Gu Taohua became more and more excited as she spoke.
"Fortunately, Manager He made predictions and allocated staff in advance, which allowed both stores to operate." Liu Yue'e said happily.
Now, after some experience, Liu Yue'e is no longer afraid of long queues and has become the head waiter at Taohua Dessert Store.
"If He Chao can't even keep two stores running smoothly during the holidays, why would I spend a lot of money to hire him?" Tong Huaqiong said.
Even though she said this, Tong Huaqiong couldn't help feeling happy.
He Chao's hire was worth it and he is more capable than she thought.
Otherwise, how would Tong Huaqiong have time to live a carefree life in Qinghe Bay when she was running two stores by herself?
At this time, I have been working non-stop from morning to night.
"The most capable one is our little aunt Taohua. I saw people queuing up early in the morning these two days. There were especially many people today. If I were her, I would be like a crab without legs. Our little aunt is only 14 years old, but she is in charge of such a big shop without any hurry at all." Chen Sufen said.
Since He Chao arrived at Taohua Desserts, he has been very dedicated in teaching Gu Taohua how to manage the shop. Gu Taohua has a talent for business and is very diligent in learning, and has now begun to try to manage the shop in Yanzhi Lane.
Gu Taohua, who was always full of confidence, smiled embarrassedly when she heard her sister-in-law's praise.
"My sister-in-law is also amazing. She manages the entire bakery in good order and the products are stable." said Gu Taohua.
This pair of sister-in-law and aunt were in a state of oppression and being oppressed in the spring this year, but by the autumn their relationship had evolved into one of appreciating and flattering each other's business.
Han was very envious of the harmonious relationship between Gu Taohua and Chen Sufen.
When she was a widow with her son, her sister-in-law treated her badly and joined the clan members in bullying her. Now they have no contact with each other anymore.
Han once again sighed that Tong Huaqiong had a good family tradition.
Although Tong Huaqiong dotes on her daughter, she is also nice to her daughter-in-law.
She was willing to let both of her daughters-in-law help in the shop, which was rare in other families.
Let’s just talk about the Zheng family in Pingchuan County. They guard their huge fortune like they would guard against thieves.
Han said to Tong Huaqiong, "It's rare that you don't restrict your daughter and daughter-in-law. Some families keep their female relatives very tight. When I went to the county to wash clothes for my son, my parents-in-law scolded me for showing my face in public and almost drove my mother and me out of the clan."
Tong Huaqiong said proudly, "I was also at a loss when Lao Gu left, but such a large family can't starve to death. So I tried to do business and set up a stall with Taohua. I found that I could support the family without relying on anyone. I think if I can do it, my two daughters-in-law must be no worse. Now they are doing well in the shop. In fact, I found that we women are as capable as men, and sometimes even more capable."
"I just didn't have the opportunity before. Once I take a step forward, I'll find that my feet are no longer bound, and my steps are getting bigger and farther."
After hearing this, Han looked at Lu Zhaozhao beside her thoughtfully.