Qi Zhenzhen quickly made four of them, one for the shopkeeper and one for each of the three head chefs.
"These are convenient to carry, filling, and can be sold in the restaurant. We can order some oil paper wrappers, and they can also be served for dine-in or take-away," Qi Zhenzhen said. "The raw materials are very cheap, and the taste is acceptable to the public."
"At eight wen each, you can put two eggs, and also add a couple more pieces of thin crispy pastry. One is enough for those with a small appetite, and two or three are enough for those with a larger appetite. It's much cheaper than eating a meal at the restaurant," said one of the head chefs. "Eggs are three for two wen, and the crispy pastry and vegetables cost at most two wen! The profit for each one is at least four wen, which is good."
Another head chef chimed in, "If the restaurant had a flat pan earlier, I think it would be very convenient for making the pancake for this jianbing guozi."
"And then get a brush to mix the soybean paste and spicy soybean paste, so customers have a choice."
As expected of the best in the business, the head chefs quickly offered their opinions.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded with a smile, "Exactly. Besides, noodles and xiaolongbao are also good options. These all suit the public's taste, are affordable, and delicious."
The restaurant shopkeeper nodded incessantly. After a slight hesitation, he spoke, "The only noodles we can make here are hand-pulled noodles, which aren't very special."
"Change the toppings to a few more varieties, so customers have choices. Boil the noodles, then rinse them with cold water. You can add bean sprouts, braised meat, and stir-fry them like stir-fried noodles," Qi Zhenzhen suggested. "With a simple noodle dish, if you put in some thought, there can be many ways to eat it."
The shopkeeper's intention in saying this was to ask Qi Zhenzhen for some noodle recipes, but she didn't pick up on it, so the matter had to be dropped. However, her suggestion was feasible; adding more toppings would give customers more choices, and the stir-fried noodles she mentioned would likely be popular if done well.
"You are all masters of grand cuisine. For home-style dishes, the shopkeeper can definitely hire two more cooks," Qi Zhenzhen advised. "Divide the labor, each person in charge of their own duties, and it's less likely to cause problems."
The head chefs breathed a sigh of relief. The girl's suggestions were very pertinent. They were accustomed to cooking elaborate dishes, and it was not certain they could cook home-style dishes better than ordinary cooks. Moreover, doing both grand dishes and home-style dishes simultaneously would affect both, resulting in distorted grand dishes and nondescript home-style dishes, which would be a loss.
They had wanted to tell the shopkeeper earlier, but they were afraid he would think they were being arrogant or demanding. Now that the girl had said it, the shopkeeper was more likely to listen.
As expected, the shopkeeper nodded after a moment's thought, "What Miss Qi says is right."
Having said all that needed to be said, Qi Zhenzhen left Qian Ji, leaving the rest to them.
Whether Fu Man Lou could survive the competition for customers and suppression from Qian Ji would depend on their abilities.
The shopkeeper of Qian Ji was a man of action. After Qi Zhenzhen left, he began to make preparations, pickling what needed to be pickled, hiring people where needed, all with the aim of suppressing Fu Man Lou's business to the point of no return.
"Aren't you staying a few more days?" Lin Ruixue asked, holding Qi Zhenzhen's hand, reluctant to part.
"I won't be staying. The weather has already warmed up, and Xinglin needs to start preparing," Qi Zhenzhen said. "Besides, my mother is at home alone, and I'm really worried."
Lin Ruixue helped Da Jiang and Xiao He load their luggage onto the carriage. It was clothes and bedding that Aunt Lu had rushed to make for them these past two days.
"Follow Zhenzhen from now on, learn more, and you'll have a good future," Aunt Lu exhorted incessantly.
Da Jiang and Xiao He nodded in unison, "Aunt Lu, we've got it."
"Let's go. If we linger any longer, we won't reach by evening, and traveling at night is difficult," Qi Zhenzhen urged.
Da Jiang and Xiao He climbed into the carriage. Qi Zhenzhen gently flicked the whip, and the carriage slowly moved towards the outskirts of the city, picking up speed only after leaving the city.
"Miss Qi, can I learn to drive the carriage?" Da Jiang poked his head out.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded, "When we get home, the job of taking care of the horses will be yours and Xiao He's. Once you get familiar with them, driving the carriage is very simple. Horses are very smart; they remember the roads they've traveled."
"Miss, don't worry, Xiao He and I will take good care of the horses," Da Jiang said, patting his chest.
The three of them arrived at Xinghua Village as dusk fell. Yun Shi and Yu Shi heard the commotion and came out together.
Qi Zhenzhen jumped down from the carriage, called Da Jiang and Xiao He down, and then asked Yun Shi and Yu Shi to help carry the clothes and bedding into the house. They separated the carriage and the horses, led the horses to the backyard, and fed Sweet Bean. After finishing, they returned to the front yard.
Da Jiang and Xiao He stood in the main room, while Yu Shi and Song Mingyue sat.
Seeing Qi Zhenzhen enter, Yu Shi looked as if she had seen a savior, "Zhenzhen, quickly tell them to sit down. Standing like that, aren't you tired?"
"Da Jiang, Xiao He, sit down. Don't stand there, it's awkward. Our home isn't some landlord's mansion, and you aren't bought servants. Although you'll be helping with chores from now on, there's no need to be so reserved. We should get along as if we're family," Qi Zhenzhen sat down, picked up a teacup, and poured herself a cup of hot tea.
Xiao He looked eagerly at Da Jiang. Da Jiang's expression was complicated, and finally, he pulled Xiao He to sit down.
Qi Zhenzhen briefly recounted Da Jiang and Xiao He's experiences. Yu Shi, being a mother, felt great sympathy for their plight. Her maternal instincts kicked in, and she directly told Da Jiang and Xiao He to settle down and that they were family from now on.
"You two will stay in the second room on the east side. Aunt Lu has prepared bedding, and there's also some in the cabinet by the kang. Just tidy up yourselves. There are new washbasins in the utility room, and the bathing area and latrine are in the backyard. If you lack anything, just say so," Qi Zhenzhen said. "No sleeping in tomorrow morning; you must be up when I get up."
Da Jiang and Xiao He nodded in agreement.
"Come, it's time to eat. I didn't know you were coming back today, so there's not much food. I've just made a few flatbreads, so make do with them," Yun Shi brought in a plate of baked flatbreads, still steaming hot from the oven.
There were also thinly sliced braised meat.
Da Jiang and Xiao He couldn't hide their excitement. To have white flour flatbreads and meat to "make do with" meant the food was too good.
"Eat slowly, eat slowly. Take a sip of water so you don't choke," Yun Shi said softly, watching them eat ravenously. "If it's not enough, I'll make more; it only takes a moment."
Da Jiang and Xiao He's eyes welled up. Since they could remember, they had been wandering, not knowing who their parents were, with no relatives or friends. They had experienced warmth, but more often they had been driven away, disliked, and even beaten. They had dreamt of having a place to shelter and caring family members. What they thought was an unattainable dream had now become a reality, and their excitement was beyond words.