Chapter 269: Thoughts on Brewing Wine
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Madam Liu enthusiastically handed the barbecued lamb skewers to Su Binglan.
Su Binglan could not decline Madam Liu’s kind offer, so she took the skewers and started eating. She asked, “Uncle Fengzhi, Madam Liu, has business been good?”
Madam Liu explained smilingly, “It’s perfect. Our lamb skewers are famous, and many people from other villages and towns have come to eat them. I can’t talk much at noon since it’ll get busy soon. Your uncle and I have hired someone, and he will come and help us in the afternoon.”
Su Binglan nodded. It seemed that business was indeed good. Otherwise, her third uncle and his wife would not be willing to spend money just to hire a helper.
She seemed to have thought of something and asked, “Is there anyone else who sells lamb skewers around?”
She knew it was easy for others to learn how to make lamb skewers. Everyone could learn just by watching.
Su Fengzhi was busy with his lamb skewers as he said smilingly, “No one else sells lamb skewers. As far as I know, we’re the only ones in town that do. I think it’s because they can’t copy our seasoning and high charcoal prices.
“Our skewers will be more expensive if we include the charcoal prices. Hence, people think it’s not worth it, so no one has imitated our business yet.”
Su Binglan nodded.
However, if a foreigner saw the lamb skewers and imitated them, the foreigner would sell them at a higher price in their local area. The wealthy would still buy them as long as they were delicious. After all, skewers were unique from other foods.
Su Binglan looked around and said, “The weather is getting colder, so it’s not wise for others to eat lamb skewers in the open. You should set up a shop
instead. I ‘
Madam Liu said, “We’ve thought about that. We can afford it now since we’ve earned quite a lot of money. Still, we can’t barbecue the lamb skewers indoors, can we? There’s too much smoke.’
Madam Liu was worried she would burn down the building if they rented a shop and barbecued their lamb skewers indoors.
Su Binglan said, “That’s a simple fix. You guys can rent a shop with a backyard, so you and Uncle Fengzhi can barbecue the lamb skewers outdoors. Then you can bring them into the shop and serve them on the tables inside.
“When the time comes, not only can you sell lamb skewers, but you can also sell other dishes that go well with wine. Then you’ll earn even more money.”
Madam Liu became excited when she imagined that scene. “You’re right. That is an excellent idea! Previously, many customers said that our lamb would go well with wine. However, wine is expensive, and it might be too much of a risk.
“Still, I think it’s no problem to cook some dishes with wine. Your third uncle was a chef, so he’s great at cooking with these expensive ingredients.”
Madam Liu knew she and her family could earn more if more customers came to eat their lamb skewers and vegetables. Indeed, they were too busy, but they could always hire someone to barbecue the lamb skewers since it was a simple task.
As long as the new workers mastered the barbecuing method and seasoning, others could not imitate their business even if they wanted to.
“Wenlin learned how to cook from Fengzhi, but Wenlin and Wenchi are busy making charcoal and preparing the skewers at home.”
It was no wonder Su Binglan did not see Su Wenlin and Su Wenchi when she visited town these past few days. It turned out they were busy preparing other things like charcoal at home.
Su Binglan said, “More people will buy your lamb skewers when winter arrives, and charcoal becomes cheaper.”
Su Fengzhi thought of something and said, “By the way, Binglan. My second brother told me you need more charcoal because you’re opening a hotpot restaurant soon. You can take ours and use them.
“You were the one who taught us how to make charcoal, so it also belongs to you. There’s no need to buy any from us; you can just take as much as you want.”
Previously, Su Fengzhi insisted on giving Su Binglan 30% of his profits from the charcoal his family sold.
He and Madam Liu were very insistent, and they said that if it were not for Su Binglan, their family would not know how to make charcoal, let alone make barbecued lamb skewers.
The older couple tried persuading Su Binglan then, but she only accepted the 30% profits. Still, Su Binglan refused to use their charcoal at no cost.
She insisted, “I won’t argue with you, and you don’t have to argue with me either. I need a lot of charcoal, and I will feel more at ease if I pay for the charcoal. I would feel too embarrassed to take your charcoal for free Uncle
Fengzhi, you and Madam Liu should do as I say if you want to help me.” Since she had said so, Su Fengzhi and his wife could not refute it.
“Okay, we won’t argue. Your cousins will make more charcoal at home, so don’t worry. You can use as much as you need.”
“Okay,” Su Binglan seemed to have thought of something and said, “Uncle Fengzhi, Madam Liu, you can cooperate with the people from the winery if you need to buy some. They might lower the price since you’ll buy more. I know many wine sellers in town who will happily cooperate with you.”
Su Binglan had thought of opening a winery, but she was too busy with many things and could not do that for a long time.
Madam Liu smiled, and her eyes lit up. “Yes, that would save us plenty of money.”
Su Binglan rode her horse back after talking to her third uncle and his wife for a while. In the meantime, Su Fengmao and his wife did not slack off in the morning as they moved their things to the new house.
Even though the family had gotten new furniture to replace the old ones, Shen Qiuhua could not bear to throw the old ones away, so she took them all to the new house.
The family also had cows and donkeys, so Shen Qiuhua tied them up in the new house’s shed since it was big enough and had a special place for livestock.
When Su Binglan returned, her father and the others had finished moving. There were still a few miscellaneous things in the old house, but the family had quickly moved them.
Su Binglan had packed hers and her husband’s things when she woke up, and Shen Qiuhua went over to pick them up and send them to the new house.
Su Binglan went to the old house when she rode her horse home, but she realized it was empty. Honestly, it was tough to adapt to moving houses so suddenly.
She felt that way because she had stayed in the old house for a long time, and changing environments seemed like a significant change. Nonetheless, Su Binglan led her horse to the new house.
Su Wenxiu did not go to Hundred Herb Hospital in the morning because he helped his family with the move. He only planned to go to the hospital after lunch in the afternoon.
Su Wenwu had been helping at home as he wanted his sister’s hotpot restaurant to open soon so he would have something to do.
“Sister, you’re back.”
He was drying clothes and bedding in the yard. Most of the clothes he hung out to dry had been in the cupboard for a long time, so he had to take them out to bask in the sun. Otherwise, they would smell stale.
Su Wenwu was delighted when he saw Su Binglan had returned because he knew there would be good food for lunch.
Su Binglan looked at the yard the family would use to hang clothes. She had made a drying pole and asked Su Zhengde to make some clothes racks to make it more convenient for the family to hang clothes and dry bedding.
The old house’s yard was too small, so Shen Qiuhua tied a rope to hang and dry clothes. Every family in the village did that, as they had no clotheslines or hangers.
Su Binglan noticed Su Wenwu’s excitement and smiled. “Did you guy’s finish moving all our stuff?”
“Yes, we’ve moved everything. Since we didn’t have much, I started doing housework after breakfast. I’ m just waiting for lunch now that I’ve finished my housework.. “
