We had finished all the preparations and the enticing aroma of the braised meat filled the air. I surveyed the kitchen with a sense of accomplishment, pleased to see the neatly wrapped portions of braised meat ready for sale. Counting them, I realized we had managed to wrap at least 85 portions, each nestled inside a fragrant lotus leaf.
As I glanced at the pot of boiling cassava, I decided that since fufu was relatively unknown in this era, we would prepare a more modest quantity. I portioned out only 30 servings, knowing that it would be an intriguing addition to our offerings.
Just as I finished packing the fufu into small containers, ready to be sold, Cree, big brother Allardy, and Uncle Jiang approached me. They wore determined expressions on their faces, clearly ready for the next step.
Cree crossed his arms and exclaimed, "Eldest sister, I think the three of us can handle the market just fine. We don't need to bring everyone along."
Big brother Allardy nodded in agreement. "Don't believe him Bellona. It's our first time venturing into this business, and we need to make sure that we are not lacking manpower."
Uncle Jiang chimed in, "I want to look around the market so I must also go"
I listened to their arguments, knowing that they were looking out for me. I know that they would not let me go out alone. Hayst! This is what you get when you're the only girl in the family.
What they say is also true, this was a family endeavor, and we needed to support each other.
Finally, I sighed and looked at each of them. "Alright, alright, I won't argue anymore. If all of you insist on coming, then we'll go to the market together. But promise me that we'll stick together and help each other out."
Cree's face lit up with a mischievous grin, and he nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, elder sister! We're a team, and we'll conquer the market together!"
Big Brother Allardy placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Bellona. We've got your back. This is our chance to showcase our hard work and delicious food to the world."
Uncle Jiang gave a nod of agreement, a hint of pride shining in his eyes. "You've done well, Bellona. It's time for us to share our culinary talents with others."
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The vibrant market was abuzz with activity as we made our way through the bustling crowd. Vendors lined the streets, their stalls filled with an array of tempting treats. The scent of steaming buns and sizzling noodles wafted through the air, making my stomach rumble with anticipation.
As I looked around, I noticed a middle-aged woman running a small stall in the right alley. Her wonton noodles seemed to be a hit, with a steady stream of customers eagerly devouring their bowls. I mustered up the courage to approach her, hoping she would be open to sharing the space.
"Excuse me," I said politely, trying to catch her attention. "We're starting a small business selling braised meat and fufu. Would you be willing to let us set up beside you? We'll pay you 10 liang for the favor."
She glanced at me with a condescending look, clearly uninterested in our proposal. "I'm sorry, but I have my own set of customers, and I don't want any competition," she replied dismissively.
We continued to roam around, weaving through the bustling market.
After a few minutes, we came across a kind-looking old man who was busy serving his own customers. He had a small table with a few empty seats nearby.
"Excuse me, sir," I said, trying to catch his attention. "We're starting a new business, and we're wondering if we could use a small corner of your table to set up our braised meat and fufu. We'll make sure not to get in your way, and we're more than happy to compensate you for your generosity."
The old man looked at us with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eyes. "Ah, young ones starting out in the market, how wonderful! Of course, you're welcome to share my table. No need to pay me anything. It's always nice to support each other."
Relief washed over me as I expressed my gratitude. "Thank you so much, sir. Your kindness means a lot to us."
As we set up the table with neatly arranged packets of braised meat, excitement bubbled within me. This was our chance to showcase our delicious creation to hungry market-goers. I turned to Cree, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.
"Cree, let's make sure everyone knows about our braised meat. We need to grab their attention," I said, my voice filled with enthusiasm.
He nodded eagerly, understanding the task at hand. We positioned ourselves in front of the table, ready to captivate the passersby with our lively advertisement.
"Braised meat for only 3 coins!" I called out, my voice projecting through the busy market. "Delicious, tender braised meat!"
Cree joined in, his voice filled with youthful exuberance. "Come and try our braised meat! Free taste for everyone!"
We repeated our enthusiastic calls, hoping to draw the curious and the hungry toward our stall. The tantalizing aroma of the braised meat wafted through the air, further enticing potential customers.
As people began to notice us, their gazes were drawn to our colorful sign and the mouth-watering display of braised meat. Some approached cautiously, while others couldn't resist the allure of a free taste.
"Three coins for a portion of this delectable braised meat! You won't find a better deal in the whole market!" I proclaimed, my voice filled with conviction.
A burly man caught sight of our stall and approached us with a curious expression. His skeptical gaze scanned the display of braised meat packets, and he couldn't contain his intrigue any longer.
"Excuse me," he said, his deep voice resonating. "I couldn't help but overhear. Are you really serving braised meat for only 3 coins?"
I met his gaze with a confident smile, ready to address his doubts. "Absolutely!" I replied, my voice carrying a hint of pride. "Our braised meat is indeed priced at just 3 coins per portion."
The man's eyebrows furrowed, clearly surprised by the incredible value we offered. "But the normal price of meat is around 40 coins per catty. How can your braised meat be so affordable?"
As the burly man expressed his skepticism about our braised meat, I could sense his discomfort when I mentioned that we were serving pig offal and pig head. Understanding his hesitation, I quickly reassured him with a warm smile.
"Don't worry," I said earnestly. "Our braised meat made from pig offal and pig head is nothing like you might expect. We've put a lot of effort into ensuring that there's no unpleasant smell or off-putting taste. In fact, I guarantee that it's delicious!"
A flicker of uncertainty crossed the man's face as he contemplated whether to give it a try. Sensing his hesitation, I decided to take it a step further and offer him a chance to taste it without any obligations.
"Just to put your mind at ease, sir," I continued, "why don't you try it for free? You can sample a small portion and see for yourself how good it truly is. I promise you won't be disappointed."
His conflicted expression softened, and curiosity got the better of him. With a hesitant nod, he agreed to try it, still keeping a cautious distance from the idea of consuming offal. I quickly prepared a small portion of our braised meat, making sure to choose a tender and flavorful piece.
As he took the first bite, his eyes widened in surprise. A smile slowly spread across his face, replacing any trace of doubt. He couldn't hide his delight as he savored the rich flavors of the braised meat.
"This is actually really good!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine amazement. "I never thought pig offal and pig head could taste this delicious! You've completely changed my perception." With a satisfied grin, the burly man placed an order for a portion of our braised meat, his initial reservations replaced by a newfound appreciation.
A middle-aged woman approached us with a curious expression on her face. She seemed intrigued by the aroma of our braised meat and wanted to have a taste.
"Excuse me," she said politely, "may I have a small taste of your braised meat? But please understand that if I don't like it, I won't be obligated to make a purchase."
I nodded with a warm smile, understanding her concern. "Of course," I replied, "you're more than welcome to try it. We want everyone to be satisfied with their choice."
With caution, she picked up a piece of our braised meat and took a careful bite. I watched closely, anticipation building within me as I waited for her reaction. Her eyes widened, and a surprised yet delighted expression crossed her face.
"Oh, my! This is absolutely delicious!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine excitement. "I never imagined pig offal and pig head could be transformed into such a flavorful dish. You've truly worked wonders here!"
The woman turned to her family, who had been observing from a short distance, and beckoned them over. With an excited smile, she exclaimed, "You all have to try this! It's surprisingly amazing!"
Her family eagerly stepped forward, their curiosity piqued by her enthusiastic endorsement. One by one, they took a bite of the braised meat, their faces lighting up with joy. It was evident that they had also been won over by the unexpected delight of our creation.
Without hesitation, the woman turned to me and requested three portions of the braised meat, ensuring that her family could enjoy it fully. "This is going to make a fantastic dinner for us tonight," she added with a satisfied grin.
Brother Li, the burly man who had just tasted our delicious braised meat, seemed quite satisfied with the flavor. As he savored the lingering taste, he turned to me and inquired, "Do you have any other dishes to go along with this amazing braised meat?"
I smiled and replied, "Absolutely! We have a complementary dish called fufu that pairs wonderfully with the braised meat. It's a pounded and boiled cassava dish, and we're offering it for only 1 coin."
Brother Li's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Sounds interesting," he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I'll give it a try."
I swiftly served him a portion of the fufu, carefully placing it next to his braised meat. Brother Li took a moment to examine the fufu, its soft texture and inviting aroma piquing his interest. Without hesitation, he scooped up a piece and tasted it.
His face broke into a wide grin, and he exclaimed, "This fufu is fantastic! It complements the braised meat perfectly, adding a different texture and flavor. I must say, you've really nailed it with these dishes!"
He was clearly pleased with his experience and decided to indulge himself further. He looked at me and said, "You know what? I'll take another portion of your mouthwatering braised meat, along with the fufu. I'm going to share this with my brothers.
After a successful breakfast rush, we had managed to sell a whopping 60 packets of our delicious braised meat. It was an exhilarating feeling to see our hard work pay off, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in what we had accomplished. However, there were still 23 packets left to sell since we had offered free tastings to the customers.
Once the bustling crowd had dwindled and the tables were cleared, I approached the kind old man who had generously offered us his table earlier. I wanted to express my gratitude and pay him for his kindness. But to my surprise, he simply smiled warmly and refused to accept any payment.
"No need for that, my dear," he said, his eyes twinkling with genuine appreciation. "Thanks to the crowd your braised meat attracted, I've had a surge in customers as well. It's been a pleasure having you here, and I'm truly grateful for the extra business."
His words touched my heart, and I couldn't help but smile in return. It was a beautiful exchange of mutual support and kindness.
In a playful manner, I said, "Well, if you won't accept payment, at least let us repay you with a token of our gratitude." With mischievous intent, I discreetly left two portions of braised meat on his table, alongside a note expressing our thanks.
The old man's eyes widened in surprise, and then he burst into laughter. "You cheeky little rascals!" he exclaimed, his laughter filling the air. "You've already given me so much joy with your delicious food, and now you're spoiling me with these extra portions? You youngsters certainly know how to make an old man feel special."
We shared a heartfelt laugh, enjoying the lighthearted moment. It was a beautiful connection forged through food and kindness.
As we bid farewell to the old man and packed up our remaining braised meat.