Transmigrated Farmgirl's Scheme to Get Rich - Chapter 240
Tofu Shop
Today, when Mo Yan went to visit Ms. Hua, while she passed by the alleyway, she saw that one of the storefronts behind the granary was empty, so she went over to ask Manager Ho.
“Manager Ho, I saw that one of the storefronts behind your shop was empty, do you have any arrangements for it?”
“The people who rented it were from the south. After hearing that the borders were peaceful, they returned back to the south, so the storefront’s been emptied out. RIght now, there hasn’t been anyone who’s rented it yet!”
“Then I’ll rent it!”
“Do you still not have enough storefronts with how many you’ve rented? Why do you still need to rent more?”
“It’s for my sister, she wants to sell tofu, a few side dishes and the like.”
Manager Ho smiled happily, “That’s perfect! We just so happen to be missing a tofu shop here. They can use the yellow beans from my grainary, so they won’t need to import them from elsewhere, and I’ll give them a discount on rent.”
“Alright, then let’s do it. I’ll tell them to come over and sign the contract, you can just charge them the same rent as everyone else.”
“No problem, this storefront’s rent isn’t expensive anyways, just five hundred dollars a month.”
Mo Yan was too lazy to travel all the way to Mo Ling’s, so just wrote a letter for the post office to send. Although the storefront was as perfect as what Mo Ling had hoped for, it was already excellent, and she came back with Zhong Cheng the next day.
After seeing the storefront, they signed the contract. It was small, and it’d already be a struggle to make tofu. Not to mention living, it wouldn’t be enough space to bring Zao’er. Making tofu required making soy milk in a large pot, and it wouldn’t do to scald children.
Mo Ling and Zhong Cheng were still discussing what to do when Zao’er tugged on Mo Yan and asked her to play. He kept jabbering on and pointing at this or that, making Mo Yan’s head spin around in circles.
Mo Yan smiled and touched his head, “You little rascal, you haven’t said a word and you’ve gotten me all confused.”
Zhong Cheng said, “This child’s been connected to you since birth. He only sees you a few times a year, but still recognises you. At home, he isn’t even as close to his grandparents! Otherwise, we wouldn’t have brought him here.”
“Then how about I help take care of him while you’re busy with your storefront in the future. In a few years, send him to school to study. This town’s school is much better than the one in town.”
“You need to manage your shops, how can you also take care of him?”
“When I’m busy, I’ll have Godmother Wu go easy on me. I’ll just give her and Zhao’er a larger red packet for the New Year.”
“Then won’t I have to trouble you again?”
“Don’t be so courteous, let’s just keep it at that. Go clean up your shop! I’ll go take Zao’er out to play.”
Mo Yan picked Zao’er up and went to the storefront and the commercial firm, showing him what was in each of them. The child liked the liveliness, and wasn’t afraid of people at all, laughing at the slightest provocation. When he was given something to eat, he even knew to cup his hands and thank the person, he just didn’t speak.
At the end of the trip, Mo Yan took Zao’er to Ms. Hua’s, who also liked him. Mo Yan brought up her occasionally taking care of him, and she was very willing, “I don’t know how to do anything else, but I definitely won’t have any problem taking care of children. If you’re busy, just leave him at mine, I’m getting bored at home!”
Mo Ling and Zhong Cheng had already cleaned up their storefront, and would be bringing in the tools needed to make tofu, such as a mortar and epistle, as well as opening the next day. As for what they would sell, that would slowly increase the number of goods they’d sell.
Both of them were hard-working, and were much more motivated than Mo Feng, so Mo Yan didn’t need to be worried about their business.
They had become very familiar with making tofu, and on the first day, Zhong Cheng personally made a small pot of douhua. The smooth and white douhua was stored in a bowl, with soy sauce on the surface and small herbs sprinkled on top. Finally, he added a few pieces of spring onion.
The douhua looked appealing and was tasty to boot. Mo Ling handed bowls of douhua to the passersby frequenting the alleyway, and they all praised the food when they tasted it. When Mo Feng had a bowl, he went over to get another. And when Xiuying ate it, she was incredibly jealous. How did they find such a profitable business!
Mo Ling had just wanted to make some and give it a shot. Seeing the positive reactions, she decided to make some every day to sell. After all, the alleyway was intended to sell these kinds of snacks.
As the two tended to the storefront, they made tofu. After Zhong Cheng delivered tofu to the restaurant, they made other tofu-related products such as dougan and tofu strips. If some of it hadn’t been sold, they’d use them to make side dishes, or give it to others.
Their business was incredibly popular, and much stronger than Mo Feng and Xiuying’s.
The tofu they made was better than what was sold in the market, so as the days went by, their reputation spread, and there’d be people coming to buy their tofu specifically every day, including Zhou Liangsheng. His father and uncle were both foodies, so if there was any new and delicious food in town, they naturally also had to try it out.
There were some people who came here for the first time and didn’t bring anything to store tofu, so could only eat it at their shop with their bowls. Mo Ling took out a few stools for them to sit down, and later set up a few tables for them as well.
The others didn’t say anything, but Xiuying was the first to be dissatisfied, and said to Mo Feng, “This alleyway is narrow to begin with, and her shop has a lot of customers. Now she’s setting up tables outside, won’t it become even more cramped?”
Mo Feng not to cause trouble, since this alleyway wasn’t just their family’s.
Xiuying complained, “You’re only nice to your sister. Since their business is going so well, why don’t you take a page out of their book and improve our business too?”
Mo Feng was also dissatisfied. “Alright, fine,” he said, before actually going over.
It just so happened that the shop wasn’t busy. Mo Ling was making tofu strips and side dishes.
“Sister, can you teach me how to improve my business?”
Mo Ling spoke while working, “If you want your business to get better, you first need to know what your customers want, and follow their desires. Are you still worrying about your business?”
“How can I know what they want, it’s not like I can just ask them?”
“Foolish brother, look at the people coming and going in this alleyway. They’re buying buns, buying side dishes, but what are they missing?”
Mo Feng shook his head, “Just tell me! I can’t think of anything.”
“A shop selling flatbread and wraps. I’d have made it myself if I could grow another pair of hands. Your business isn’t busy, so it’s perfect for making wraps. You just need a stove, so it’ll be much easier than me making tofu here.”
Mo Feng went back to discuss with Xiuying, who remembered, “That’s right! Your family’s first business was selling wraps. We can make them too, the business isn’t busy and we can sell them at the main road or the street when we’ve made them.”
Mo Feng was clueless about kneading dough and making flatbread, and asked Xiuying at every step. When he was selling goods at the front, he even had to ask if he was doing it right, like it was his first day doing this.
Xiuying sighed, and thought, Other people’s business had two people working together, while I’m the only one contributing. No wonder our business isn’t as good as theirs.
As the weather got warmer, the days got longer and the shops closed later.
Mo Yan bought some buns at the alleyway, before taking some tofu from Mo Ling’s and going back to the workshop to make spring onions and tofu. She’d also ask Jin’er to make some congee and call it a dinner.
Ever since Lu Junming left, Jin’er had gone to the workshop. Mo Yan wasn’t used to having someone serve her, so aside from having her cook from time to time, she went to the workshop to learn the work there.
Mo Ling’s shop hadn’t closed yet, so Mo Yan took Zao’er with her. After having dinner, Zao’er had been exhausted from playing all day and slept on Mo Yan’s bed. He was sleeping soundly when Mo Ling came to pick him up.
They still had a long way to go back home. The trip was too bumpy, and the child might be awoken, so Mo Yan let him sleep with her.
P.S. We’re 80% of the way done with the novel!