Chapter 179 – Selling Lapa Porridge

All the people who did work for Wei Ruo Wei Ruo did not fall.

In Xu Ji’s haloumi store, Chen Ah Qing held the bowl and took a big gulp.

Seeing her drink so anxiously, Wei Ruo couldn’t help but say, “The way you look I wonder if I usually withhold from you and don’t let you have enough to eat.”

“No, miss, this porridge of yours is so delicious! You and Sister Xiu Mei’s craftsmanship is too good!” Chen Ah Qing explained.

“It’s not a matter of craftsmanship, it’s a matter of ingredients, this bowl of congee uses yellow rice, white rice, river rice, millet, lingonberry rice, chestnuts, red cowpeas, peeled jujube puree, mixed together and then boiled with water, and then dyed with dyed red peach kernels, almonds, melon seeds, peanuts, hazelnut ranches, pine nuts and white and brown sugar, and trivial grapes for a spot of dye.”

There’s something to be said for making congee, but it’s not that big of a deal, it’s just a pot of water that’s been simmered and boiled, and there’s really not a lot of craftsmanship involved.

The congee is more about the ingredients than anything else, and you don’t really have the time or inclination to put together so many ingredients to make this congee.

“This …… is so much stuff ah? That must be very expensive ……” Chen Aqing froze and looked at the empty bowl in her hand, somewhat regretting that she had eaten in a hurry.

“It’s okay, I can afford to give you guys a meal once in a while, and I’m not just giving you guys food, I’m going to be selling it later, tomorrow is the 8th day of the 12th month, it’s just the right time to sell this porridge.”

With that, Wei Ruo explained to Chen Aqing, “In a moment, the store will vacate a conspicuous position to sell this porridge, a bowl of one or two silver dollars.”

“One or two silver dollars?” Chen Aqing directly froze, unable to believe his ears.

“Yes, one or two silvers.” Wei Ruo replied with certainty.

At that Chen Aqing gulped, then once again looked at her own bowl that was empty, then wouldn’t she have just drank away a whole one tael of silver in one gulp?

Although she felt in her heart that this price was very, very expensive, Chen Aqing didn’t ask much, she trusted Wei Ruo unconditionally and felt that there must be a reason for the lady to price it this way!

Wei Ruo used this material to cook this porridge when he made up his mind, to sell this porridge at a high price, specializing in selling the rich and noble families.

Since the opening of Hsu Kee Lo Mei Shop, it has been publicized by Mrs. Yuan, attracting a lot of nobles in the city to taste it, and then accumulating a group of rich and powerful loyal customers for themselves.

Although the last incident with Drunken Immortal House had caused some damage to the store, it had also publicized Xu Ji Marinated Food Shop in another way.

Nowadays, the store is not short of rich customers, and everyone recognizes the taste of the brine store, so Wei Ruo will put this Laha congee into the store in a conspicuous and eye-catching position, and surely there will be people who are willing to spend a lot of money to taste it.

Sure enough, by noon, Xu Ji’s Laba congee had sold several servings.

By the afternoon, even more people were buying, some of them tasting it on the spot and then buying several bowls to take back with them.

Wei Ruo only prepared one bucket for sale, and sold out by the time it was not yet time (two or three o’clock in the afternoon), selling a total of thirty copies, which amounted to thirty taels of silver.

Even now, Chen Ah Qing didn’t quite dare to believe that thirty taels of silver had been sold just like that! It’s almost like a magic trick!

And although Wei Ruo didn’t feel surprised, he was also surprised by the speed of the sale.

From the beginning, Wei Ruo knew that even if she priced this porridge at five cents, ordinary and poor families would not buy it.

They need to be fed and clothed, not eat any earthly delicacies.

But the powerful and rich are different, they are looking for quality, the more expensive things, they rather feel worthy of their status.

That’s how it is with Jumanji.

Counting the thirty taels of silver in her hand, Xiu Mei was overjoyed, “Miss, this Laba congee is too profitable! After removing our costs, the profit can be much more profitable than us selling vegetables and sweet potatoes and lo mei!”

“Don’t be too happy, we still have to prepare the ingredients when we go back today, and we still have to sell for another day tomorrow.” Wei Ruo said.

“To be able to earn so much silver, I just won’t sleep tonight!” Xiu Mei said excitedly.

“That won’t do, your body is worth more than silver!” Wei Ruo said.

“Miss you still talking about me, you yourself not often like this? Other things related to you not moving and shouting tired, but where silver is concerned, you can stay awake all night!” Xiu Mei retorted.

In fact, in addition to making money there is also the matter of saving people Wei Ruo will also be wasted.

Uh …… can’t argue with that.

“Well well well.” Wei Ruo quickly changed the topic, “hurry up, busy back things to go, to prepare a lot of ingredients, slow will not be able to catch up with the good day tomorrow Laha Festival.”

And then Wei Ruo didn’t give Xiu Mei a chance to continue chanting about herself, pulling her into the carriage.

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Early the next morning, as soon as Xu Ji’s haloumi store opened, a stall selling Laba congee was set up in front of the store.

Yesterday it was just placed in an obvious spot in the store, but today it’s right in front of the store.

A sign was erected next to it that read, “Lapa congee, one or two for a bowl.”

At first, people passing by thought that the owner of Xu Ji Lo Mei Shop was crazy about money, and a bowl of ordinary porridge actually dared to sell such a sky-high price.

But soon those who thought so realized that they were wrong, and such expensive porridge was not only bought, but also quite a lot!

Families of high-ranking officials in the city, rich merchants, and sons of big clans are the buyers of this overpriced Lapa congee.

On the same street, the Drunken Immortal Residence also sells congee on this day, but apparently business is not as good as the Hsu Kee Lo Mei Shop.

In the afternoon, Drunken Immortal Residence’s Boss Shen came to Xu Ji’s haloumi store to look for Wei Ruo.

“May I ask if Mr. Xu is here?” Boss Shen asked Chen Ah Qing, who was busy at the front.

“I don’t know, I was preoccupied with business.” Chen Aqing replied.

In fact, Wei Ruo was in the courtyard behind the store, but Chen Aqing still said she didn’t know, because she also didn’t know if their young lady wanted people to know she was here.

Xiumei’s sister taught her to tell people that she doesn’t know in this situation.

At this time, the curtain of the store through the backyard lifted, and Wei Ruo walked out from the back.

“I’ve met Mr. Xu, it’s like this, my son would like to invite Mr. Xu to the Drunken Immortal Residence, I don’t know if it’s convenient for Mr. Xu?” Boss Shen wore a smile on his face as he courteously asked Wei Ruo.

“Free, I’ll follow you there now.” Wei Ruo replied cheerfully.

“Good, Mr. Xu please follow me!” Boss Shen was busy leading the way for Wei Ruo in front.

When they arrived at the Drunken Immortal Residence, Boss Shen still took Wei Ruo to the box in the corner that had the word Crane Pavilion written on the doorplate.

Just like last time, Fan Chengxu was sitting alone in the box with tea and some pastries in front of him.

“Boss Fan, what is the reason for seeking me out today?” Wei Ruo asked as he opened the door.

“Ask you when the five-spice powder and oyster sauce we talked about last time will be ready to supply me; last time you said you wanted to give you some time, and I think time has passed long enough now.”

meso- (chemistry)