mtl008 Chapter 85 Warm Winter
Chapter 85 Warm Winter
Money is the best incentive.
Even though everyone's wrists were sore from the first day's work, they were still full of energy on the second day.
The number of guests was significantly higher on the second day when the store opened for business than on the first day.
Moreover, they specifically asked for shrimp dumplings as soon as they came in, afraid that if they were a step too late, they would be sold out like yesterday.
Tian Tian didn't see the fierce competition inside the shop.
She went to the dental clinic again.
This time, she bought ten more aunties and then rented a courtyard near the shop.
From then on, the aunts she bought would live in this courtyard and wouldn't have to squeeze into the teahouse anymore.
The new auntie can't be used yet; she needs training.
The aunt who used to be there can't rest for a moment now.
Therefore, the training task can only be entrusted to Lu Tao, Liu San Niang, and Tian Xiang.
He entered from the backyard with ten aunts.
Tian Tian glanced into the kitchen and was completely dumbfounded.
"Sweetie." Lu Tao's hands kept turning the shrimp dumplings over, almost one per minute.
"Sweetie..." Liu San Niang didn't even have time to wipe the sweat from her forehead.
Tian Xiang looked up at her, then lowered her head to wrap the shumai.
They were noticeably faster than the other women.
"Mother, I bought ten more aunties."
“When you’re not so busy, take some time to teach them.”
Lu Tao didn't even look up. "Okay."
“We’ll teach them when we have time,” Liu San Niang said.
But...
There wasn't a moment of rest throughout the entire day.
The ten new aunties could only stand behind the other aunties, watching and learning...
A few clever ones, after watching for a while, actually learned it.
They started doing it quite well.
Those who hadn't learned how to do it could only help carry the steamed food out and place it on the waiting cart outside.
After calculating the profits for the day, the shopkeeper realized he had earned 30% more than the previous day.
"Miss, we have collected a total of two hundred and ninety-six taels...four hundred and ninety coins today."
“After deducting the cost of 89 taels and 600 cash, we made a profit of 206 taels and 890 cash.”
In the evening, Tian Tian led everyone to the newly rented courtyard.
"Such a big yard..."
Tian Tian said, "This courtyard is for everyone to live in. There will be two of you in each room."
“We’re short-staffed lately, and everyone’s been working hard. Once we have enough manpower, we’ll arrange for you to work in two shifts.”
Lu Tao didn't understand. "Sweetie, what does 'two shifts' mean?"
Tian Tian explained, "That is, one group of aunties worked from morning until noon, and another group worked from afternoon until night."
"That way, everyone won't have to be so tired."
Upon hearing this, the crowd was not pleased.
They looked at each other, wanting to say something but not daring to speak.
Tian Tian smiled and said, "Just say whatever you're thinking."
The woman standing at the front hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Young lady, then... after the two shifts... will the wages be less...?"
Their current wage is 100 coins a day.
If you work half a day, you get fifty coins, which is actually quite a lot.
But... if I can earn a hundred coins, I certainly don't want to earn only fifty.
Even when I'm exhausted, it's just soreness in my wrists.
Most of them are still sitting, without having to walk around.
It's okay to be tired...
Tian Tian saw through her thoughts, "Don't worry, it's two shifts, the wages won't be less."
Auntie was overjoyed. "Really? Less working hours, but the pay is still good?"
This...this is quite embarrassing.
“However…” Tian Tian looked at everyone, “you still have to do your best in your work. If I find you cheating or shirking your duties, you will be sold off without any qualms.”
"Don't worry, young lady." Everyone wasn't stupid; with such a good employer and such high wages, of course they wanted to hold on tight.
It was getting late, so Tian Tian and Lu Tao went to sleep in the yard.
The aunties prepared hot water for them and even took the initiative to give Daya, Jinghe, Chuqian, and Chuyao a bath and tuck them into thick quilts.
"Mom, it's so warm..." Tian Jinghe slept in the same room as Lu Tao.
He was completely wrapped in the blankets, with only his large, dark, grape-like eyes showing.
"Mother, will we be staying here all winter?" he asked.
Lu Tao washed her face, hands, and feet with hot water before getting into bed. "Jinghe wants to stay here?"
Tian Jinghe nodded. "Mm."
“Winters used to be so cold…this year is much warmer,” he said.
Lu Tao touched the stray hairs on his forehead. "What do you mean by 'winters used to be cold, but this year is warm'? It's because back in the old Tian family..."
The blankets were old and stiff, and not warm at all.
The family... only had two quilts.
She shared a bed with Zhiyuan and Jinghe, while Xiang'er and Tiantian shared a bed.
The blanket was too short; it covered the neck but not the feet, and vice versa...
How can it not be cold?
I made some money this year, so I'm using soft blankets all the time. I can use as many as I want, and of course I'm warm.
“Jinghe wants to stay here, so we’ll stay here for the winter,” Lu Tao said, tucking him in. “Go to sleep.”
These past few days, the children have been getting up early and going to bed late with them, and they're exhausted.
Tian Jinghe nodded, hugged Lu Tao, buried his little face in her arms, and soon a soft snoring sound could be heard.
Lu Tao smiled, then hugged Jing He and went to sleep together.
*
In just seven days, the name of Baishi Teahouse had spread to Songxi County and Xiushui County.
Whether in business circles or among ordinary people.
Everyone was curious about the novel dishes with unusual names at Baishi Teahouse.
I don't know who spread the word, but if you come to Yunzhou Prefecture and don't visit the Baishi Tea House, then you've wasted your trip.
Tian Tian was unaware of this.
She simply noticed that there were more and more customers coming to the teahouse, and there were also noticeably more people from the county town.
Inside the county government office, several yamen runners stood in front of Li Huaiyuan.
"Sir, we have already done as you said, and made a trip to Xiushui County and Songxi County to spread those messages."
Li Huaiyuan nodded. "Hmm, how's the response?"
The constable said frankly, "Sir, we've actually gone to unnecessary lengths."
"Actually...it's all over the merchants' groups in Xiushui County and Songxi County that the food at Baishi Teahouse in Baishi County is the best in Daqi, an unparalleled delicacy."
"I reckon that soon even more people will come to our Baishi County because of its reputation."
“This is exactly the effect I wanted.” Li Huaiyuan stood up, hands behind his back. “Xiushui County and Songxi County have tea and tea shops. Merchants flock there to trade, which is why the taxes in Xiushui County and Songxi County have increased.”
"Now that we have Baishi Teahouse in Baishi County, it can attract more people, and then... the tax revenue will also increase."
"Based on this, I will surely be promoted after serving three years in Baishi County."
He clicked his tongue and said, "If my father helps me with some planning... it would be best if I could be promoted directly to Yunzhou Prefecture..."
In this way, the achievements of Baishi County can still be attributed to him, and then...
Returning to the capital to serve as an official is just around the corner.