Uncle Jiang looked at me with a thoughtful expression as we enjoyed our meal. "Bellona, this food is absolutely delicious. Have you ever considered turning this into a business?" he asked, his eyes filled with anticipation.
I pondered his words for a moment, savoring the flavors on my tongue. The thought of sharing these flavors with others and potentially earning some income intrigued me. "You know, Uncle Jiang, I think we could make a business out of it," I replied, a glimmer of excitement in my voice. "If we can secure a steady supply of pig's offal, we could sell it at the dock. People are always looking for unique and affordable food options."
Uncle Jiang's face lit up with enthusiasm. "That's a brilliant idea, Bellona! We can tap into a market that others might overlook. We just need to find a reliable source for the pig's offal."
I nodded in agreement. "Exactly. That's why I thought we should pay a visit to the Wang household, the butcher family. I've heard that they import meat from the county twice a week. Perhaps they would be willing to supply us with pig's offal regularly."
With our plan in mind, we finished our meal and set off towards the Wang household. As we walked along the dusty path, I could feel a surge of anticipation building within me. This could be the start of something exciting for our family, a venture that could not only provide us with a steady income but also bring our delicious creations to more people.
The sun began to set as we arrived at the Wang household. We exchanged pleasantries with the butcher, Mr. Wang, explaining our business idea and the potential partnership we were seeking. He listened attentively, his face reflecting a mix of curiosity and interest.
As we stood before Mr. Wang, discussing our potential partnership, he looked at us with a hint of curiosity. After listening to our business proposal, he nodded and spoke, "I can supply you with all the pig offal you need for just 2 liang per catty. You see, I would have thrown them away anyway."
I was pleasantly surprised by his offer. The price was more than reasonable, considering the value and potential profit we could generate from the offal. Intrigued, I inquired further, "And what about the pig head? How much would that cost?"
Mr. Wang pondered for a moment before replying, "The pig head can be sold for 30 liang. It's not a high price, but you must understand, it's a rarity to find buyers for pig heads. People are tired of eating them. In comparison, the regular meat is mostly sold for 45 liang per catty."
I turned to Zhong-dage, seeking his opinion. He nodded and explained, "Bellona, that's actually a good price for the pig head. As Mr. Wang mentioned, it's not a commonly sought-after item, and the market demand for it is low. But considering the lower cost and the opportunity to offer something unique, we could still make a profit from it."
Taking Zhong-dage's words into consideration, I nodded in agreement. "I understand, Mr. Wang. We will gladly purchase the pig offal at 2 liang per catty and the pig head at 30 liang. It's a fair deal, given the circumstances."
Mr. Wang smiled, appreciating our understanding. "Excellent! I can have the supplies ready for you tomorrow. We have to slaughter 2 to 4 pigs every other day to supply the town, so we'll have plenty of offal and the pig heads available."
Thanking Mr. Wang for his cooperation, we exchanged farewells and made our way back home. Leading the way was me and Cree. Eldest Brother and Zhong-brother were still at back having a conversation.
"Are we really going into business?" Cree asked, his voice tinged with a mix of hope and uncertainty. I paused for a moment, looking into his innocent eyes, and replied, "Yes, Cree, we are. We're going to start our own business."
A spark of excitement danced in his eyes as he processed my words. "So that means we'll have plenty of money and never be hungry again, right, Elder sister?" he asked, his voice filled with a sense of longing.
I gently caressed his head, feeling a pang in my heart as I observed how innocent and trusting he was. He had once been a pampered and privileged young master, but due to the greed of our relatives, we had fallen from grace and were now in this difficult situation.
I sighed softly, trying to find the right words to explain the reality to him. "Cree, money is important, and having enough to sustain ourselves is one of our goals. But remember, starting a business comes with challenges and uncertainties. It will take hard work, dedication, and time to build it up. We may face difficulties along the way."
Cree nodded; his expression serious as he absorbed my words. "I understand, sister. I know it won't be easy. But we have each other, right? We can face anything together."
A smile touched my lips as I hugged him tightly. "You're absolutely right, Cree. We have each other, and that's what gives me strength and hope. We'll support and encourage one another, no matter what. And I promise, we'll do our best to create a better future for ourselves.
As we passed Zhong-dage's house, he bid us farewell with a warm smile. I waved back, feeling grateful for his support. Finally, we arrived back home, the familiar sight of our humble dwelling greeting us.
Uncle Jiang, who had been patiently waiting, asked eagerly, "How did it go, Bellona? Did you manage to secure the supplies?"
I nodded with a sense of satisfaction. "Yes, Uncle Jiang, it went well. Mr. Wang agreed to provide us with pig offal every other day. We'll be able to cook delicious braised meat dishes using the offal and the pig's head."
Uncle Jiang's eyes lit up with excitement. "That's fantastic news! With your cooking skills and the quality of the ingredients, I'm sure we can create dishes that will delight our customers."
I grinned, sharing in his enthusiasm. "Absolutely, Uncle Jiang. And I have another idea too. Alongside the braised meat, we should prepare a dish made with cassava. It's a pounded and boiled dish called fufu. It's would be popular and nutritious, and I think it will complement our menu perfectly."
Uncle Jiang nodded approvingly. "Excellent suggestion, Bellona. Fufu will add variety and attract more customers. We'll showcase our culinary skills and offer a memorable dining experience."
As we discussed our plans, the atmosphere in the room brimmed with a renewed sense of purpose and determination.
I woke up to the bustling sounds coming from the kitchen. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I made my way towards the source of the commotion. To my surprise, I found my big brother and Uncle Jiang diligently cleaning two buckets full of pig offal, while the pig's head rested in another bucket nearby.
I instinctively moved to join them, ready to lend a hand in the cleaning process. However, my twin brother, ever the protective one, gently stopped me in my tracks. He looked at me with a reassuring smile and said, "Bellona, since you'll be the one doing the cooking, let the three of us handle the cleaning. We'll take care of it."
I hesitated for a moment, grateful for their consideration but eager to contribute to our shared venture. Eventually, I nodded in agreement, realizing that my role in this moment was to prepare the fufu using the cassava.
I quickly gathered the necessary ingredients and set a pot of water on the stove to boil. As the water heated, I peeled the cassava, removing its tough outer layer to reveal the starchy flesh beneath. With swift and practiced movements, I cut the cassava into smaller pieces, ready to be cooked.
Once the water reached a rolling boil, I carefully added the cassava pieces, watching as they submerged into the bubbling water. The kitchen filled with a comforting aroma, as the cassava began to soften and cook.
While the cassava simmered, I turned my attention to the offal and pig's head that my big brother and Uncle Jiang had diligently cleaned. I could hear them chatting and laughing as they worked.
Big brother Allardy looked at me with a thoughtful expression and asked, "Bellona, how exactly are we going to sell this braised meat?"
I paused for a moment, gathering my thoughts before replying, "Well, big brother, I think the best way to sell it would be by portion. We can divide the braised meat into individual servings and wrap them in lotus leaves. It'll not only make it more presentable but also help retain the flavors."
A smile of approval crossed his face as he nodded in agreement. "That's a clever idea, Bellona. I'm glad you've already thought of the wrappers. It'll give our customers a special experience."
I smiled back, feeling a sense of satisfaction knowing that my preparations were already paying off. "Yes, big brother, I asked Seeley to gather lotus leaves yesterday. We have plenty of them now, so we can use them as the wrappers for the braised meat portions."
Uncle Jiang, who had been quietly listening, chimed in, "And how much will we sell a portion of the braised meat for?"
I considered his question for a moment before responding, "I think we should price it at 3 copper coins per portion. It's a fair price that will attract customers while still ensuring a reasonable profit for us. And as for the fufu, we can sell it for 1 copper coin per serving."
Allardy nodded, clearly satisfied with the pricing strategy. "That sounds reasonable, Bellona. It's important to find the right balance between affordability and profitability. We want our customers to enjoy our food without breaking their wallets."
With a sense of determination, I continued, "Yes, big brother, that's exactly what I had in mind. We want to provide delicious and satisfying meals at a fair price. That way, more people will be able to enjoy our offerings and keep coming back for more."