Chapter 191: Chapter 191: It Was Qu Fulan Who Blocked Her Fortune
"Hmm~ This pig’s foot tastes pretty good."
Ren Hua’s few servants were eating in the shed outside.
The stores around here were all like this, where you could set up tables outside your storefront, placing just two or three tables as long as they don’t go into the street.
Qu Fulan specifically had a few servants eating outside, just to eat in front of others.
If Ren Hua hadn’t shown up today, she had planned to hire a few "actors" to eat her pig’s foot noodles at the door.
People coming and going from all directions see this, and there’s bound to be someone attracted to try it, and once they try it, it’s basically a done deal.
"This pig’s foot is so delicious, the skin is fried just right, giving it a crunchy feel. Bite down hard, and the juices inside squeeze out, the taste is fantastic!"
If at first the servants were partly acting, as the lady had specifically instructed them, once they took a bite, their feedback was genuine, there wasn’t a bit of fakery.
On the way over, the lady mentioned to put on a good show, even if it didn’t taste good they had to say it did, but it turns out it’s actually delicious!
At first, they could still rationally give a few compliments, intentionally for others to hear, but after a few more bites, they were just focused on eating, who had time to talk?
The three big guys didn’t even use chopsticks, they just grabbed the pig’s feet with their hands, gnawing while sucking the juices, making a loud sucking sound, with the oil shining from the corners of their mouths, they didn’t bother to wipe it.
No words as fancy as this scene of three big guys eating like crazy could be more convincing.
This silent feast really was incredibly persuasive.
Those watching nearby subconsciously swallowed their saliva.
"Is it really that good? That’s a bit exaggerated, isn’t it?"
"Exactly, it seems too exaggerated, it’s so exaggerated that it seems fake."
"But seeing them eat like that makes me a little hungry..."
Sure enough, there were one or two who couldn’t resist the temptation, so they went over and ordered a bowl too, anyway, whether it was good or not, they’d know after eating.
If it wasn’t good, at worst they’d take it as a loss and not come again, but if it was good? No regrets then.
"Boss, how much is a bowl of noodles?" someone went over and asked.
"A bowl of plain noodles is three wen, with pig’s foot it’s thirteen wen," the attendant said.
"Isn’t that a bit too expensive?"
"Exactly, I’ve never had noodles this expensive before, even with a pig’s foot, it shouldn’t be this costly; even the ’Return Customer Noodle Shop’, the most popular in Capital City, isn’t this expensive. Are you robbing us?"
Return Customer Noodle Shop is quite popular in Capital City, with branches in nearly every direction. A bowl with minced meat is five wen, and if you want to be extravagant with one or two fried eggs, it’s at most seven wen.
A bowl of noodles costing more than ten wen was truly a first.
At this time, noodles weren’t as popular as later on, with all sorts of condiments, at this time they were popular with minced meat or, at best, broth made from bones, with a good tasting broth being enough.
Some wanted to earn more by adding other types of meat to charge more, but their meats weren’t tasty, so customers wouldn’t buy it.
People just wanted something convenient and cheap with noodles, if they wanted something really delicious, they’d go to a restaurant.
All the customers thought it was expensive, no one didn’t, but some might just be too hungry, seeing others eat so delightfully, they just couldn’t resist. Expensive it may be, but they’ll just try it once.
Eventually, someone gritted their teeth and ordered a bowl of pig’s foot noodles, paying thirteen wen.
And when they tasted it, their eyes lit up.
It was delicious, really delicious!
Not only was the pig’s foot tasty, but even the broth was delightful. Who knows how the shop made it, it just tasted better than elsewhere.
The men eating noodles weren’t that particular, one hand held the pig’s foot, the other hand used chopsticks for noodles, dual-wielding, nothing was delayed, they ate with such satisfaction.
This scene truly made the viewers around even hungrier with desire.
"Bro, is it really that good?"
"Taste it yourself to find out, but I think it’s good."
Another chimed in, "It’s delicious, I’m not lying, I don’t get any money for lying to you."
No matter how much the shop owner says, it’s always considered "self-praise", but when customers say it’s good, that’s different.
Ren Hua finished eating and casually raised her eyebrows at Qu Fulan before leaving.
Had to pretend not to know each other, otherwise people would think they were hired to act.
It’s best not to have any rumors on the opening day.
After Ren Hua left, the customers came one after another, gradually five or six people went in to eat.
That’s not much, but Qu Fulan was already satisfied. Food business relies mainly on accumulating regulars; as long as the taste is good, you won’t worry about a lack of customers later on.
Of course, there were still people who thought it was expensive, but there were good-hearted people explaining.
"In the pork market, a pig’s foot alone costs more than ten wen, and the shop has to go through various processes, there is a cost, they need to earn a bit of money; otherwise, would they do business at a loss? If you think it’s expensive, don’t eat. They aren’t forcing you, and besides, if it seems too much, just have plain noodles, it’s only three wen."
But truly understanding people were still a minority.
Customers can’t empathize with businesses; customers always think things are expensive.
But as they said, if you think it’s expensive, just don’t eat.
However, people were still continually drawn in, not a lot, perhaps two or three at a time.
Just as Qu Fulan thought today’s foot traffic was over, in the afternoon, they received large customers.
Prince An and a few others, who knows where they were playing, rode their horses on the street, and when they came across a certain section, they saw firecrackers on the ground, knowing another store had newly opened.
They initially didn’t pay attention, but glanced over and saw Qu Fulan’s figure.
Even though she was disguised as a man, they recognized her because they had met before.
After looking into it, they learned this pig’s foot noodle place was hers!
"How could you not tell us about something this important?!"
They couldn’t help but complain, and then each person confidently ordered a bowl of noodles.
Jokes aside, would Miss Qiu’s cooking ever leave doubts?
Indeed, once they tasted the pig’s foot noodles, it was utterly satisfying.
One bowl wasn’t enough, they had to have another!
With someone like Prince An drawing crowds, naturally, more customers were attracted. In no time, the store was packed full...
Ji Nishang sat in the carriage watching this, feeling quite uneasy inside.
Her milk tea shop was losing money daily, her aunt didn’t say anything outwardly, but she must be unhappy inside.
But Qu Fulan’s place, every shop she opens becomes bustling.
Ji Nishang had an odd feeling, she should be prosperous, successful in everything, and making wealth flow in effortlessly.
Before coming to Capital City, her life was smooth, but upon arrival, encountering Qu Fulan, her fortunes seemed to have been cut off.
This feeling was quite magical, even somewhat inexplicable, but Ji Nishang felt it was exactly like that.
It was Qu Fulan who blocked her financial road.