Chapter 46: Simple Methods
A few days after painting with lacquer, the various bowls, plates and sauces were all prepared, and honestly, if the small cart was pushed out now, it looked quite eye-catching. The three-dimensional pattern showing the small bamboo forest, the five characters "Zhu's Century Eggs." Whether century eggs could sell for twenty wen seemed to depend on this. Of course, though Nie Yunzhu appeared confident before Ning Yi, she probably didn't believe it in her heart. Ning Yi naturally understood, but since things weren't settled yet, there was no need to explain too much. Saying more wasn't as good as seeing the results after doing things.
Next, how to make several restaurants willing to sell Nie Yunzhu's century eggs on consignment—that was his business.
This matter was actually simple—if they weren't willing to let Nie Yunzhu bring them over, just make them actively come get them. Since this business was a monopoly, if wanting to open it up, there were plenty of methods.
That afternoon he asked Su Chonghua for leave, saying he'd come late in the mornings for the next few days, having Su Chonghua arrange someone to supervise the students' reading—anyway, the first hour was just shaking heads reading and reciting, and whether Ning Yi was there didn't matter much.
Late February in Jiangning truly was the time when orioles flew and grass grew, and tree branches had fuzzy green new buds. Poplar catkins were elegant, floating like floss. Walking on the streets in early morning, you could hear birds chirping. The wind still carried slight coolness. Scholars and talents got up rather early. Many would call friends, choosing to cruise the Qinhuai by boat in the morning. When that faint, lingering music drifted from distant painted boats, amid the sky full of willow catkins, the scene naturally gave another impression of refined scholarly atmosphere.
When sunlight rose, Ning Yi walked on Jiangning's streets. Though this was his first time experiencing Jiangning's spring, when willow catkins filled the sky, he was already accustomed to this ancient atmosphere. With spring's opening, pedestrians on the roads increased—merchants gathering from everywhere, scholars carrying book bundles, occasionally also escort chiefs, warriors and such characters, burly and rough. Who knew who really had true skills? A chubby child teased a dog on the streetside, making faces, finally angering the dog. It barked and chased desperately, plopping the child into the river. The child splashed and swam quite far in the water, turning back to make faces. His mother saw from nearby, hands on hips cursing loudly from the riverbank.
Nie Yunzhu's stall was several streets away, and today was the first day pushing it out, but the two had talked in the morning. Ning Yi wasn't going now to see the shock level the cart gave people. His purpose was just to look at nearby restaurants. Halfway there, he met Li Pin coming toward him, probably heading to the academy.
"Liheng." After a month as colleagues, Li Pin went every morning to listen to stories, knowing Ning Yi always prepared. Seeing he wasn't planning to go to the academy at this time today, he was slightly puzzled. After asking, Ning Yi only answered he had some matters. Since he wasn't going to class, Li Pin going to Yushan Academy had nothing to do either. He asked: "Need my help?"
"Hehe, some small matters, no need." Ning Yi thought. "Brother Li lives nearby?"
"Just in the alley ahead—if Liheng has time, might as well sit at my humble dwelling." Li Pin smiled. "My wife has also long admired Liheng's great name, wanted to meet you early."
Ning Yi smiled and politely declined, then said: "Since Brother Li lives nearby, do you know which are the best, most expensive restaurants and teahouses here?"
"Ahead are Spring Mood Tower, Willow Catkin Tower, Four Seas Tower—all quite good. There are also several others on that street over there. I actually have nothing to do now. If Liheng wants to go, I could accompany you."
Li Pin seemed casual and carefree, speaking and acting comprehensively. Ning Yi smiled: "No need today. Just randomly finding an expensive one is fine. If Brother Li has appetite now, might as well eat breakfast together. My treat."
Then the two went toward what looked like the most magnificent restaurant on that street, as it wasn't yet the truly busiest time each morning. When Ning Yi and Li Pin went over, the restaurant still had some empty seats. Ning Yi casually tipped the waiter one qian of silver. The waiter immediately became attentive, eagerly leading Ning Yi and Li Pin upstairs. Then Ning Yi casually ordered several expensive meat porridges and dim sum. Li Pin only ordered a three-delicacies noodle soup.
"Does Brother Li come here often?" After pouring tea, Ning Yi asked.
Li Pin smiled: "Things are more expensive than outside, but the taste is still good. I come occasionally."
"Then... is this Spring Mood Tower's busiest time each day now?"
"Heh, not yet. In about another quarter hour1, this building will be packed."
"Mm." Ning Yi nodded.
Li Pin was obviously curious about why Ning Yi would come here, but didn't show it on the surface. Drinking tea and chatting idly with Ning Yi, the topics weren't the principles corresponding between those stories and the Analects that he usually seemed to care about, but just trivial matters. A dispute caused by cutting down a willow tree out front two years ago was also interesting in his telling. Time gradually passed, and what Ning Yi and Li Pin ordered also arrived. The restaurant filled with guests, noisy throughout. Ning Yi took a sip of porridge, knocked on the table, raised his hand at that waiter from earlier. He immediately came over.
"What else would the two young masters like?"
"Want two century eggs."
"Cen-century eggs?" The waiter was bewildered.
"...Don't have any?" Ning Yi was slightly surprised, then thought and took out fifty or sixty wen from his body, pointing outside. "Go from here, turn a corner, there's someone selling at that street corner. The cart is very pretty. Buy two and bring them back. For condiments... vinegar and soy sauce will do, you have them here. Twenty wen each, the rest is yours. Go."
He just spoke lightly, waved his hand, turned to talk with Li Pin about other things, and after that commanding presence from his previous life came out, though the waiter was stunned, for a moment he actually didn't dare refute. He just remembered century eggs, vinegar, soy sauce, and went with the money. For restaurants to grow big, rules still didn't allow opposing guests' simple requests. Moreover, this guest had given one qian of silver when entering.
Before long, the waiter brought back the century eggs. He'd probably asked Nie Yunzhu how to eat them, asked about vinegar and soy sauce, even thoughtfully brought a small dish with some vinegar and soy sauce. Ning Yi shared one with Li Pin: "Try it, new thing. If not too used to it, can try dipping in vinegar or soy sauce... Actually the best part is how it looks."
Business in the restaurant remained lively. After the two finished eating century eggs here, Ning Yi looked at that lively scene and waved again: "Waiter."
He came over again. Ning Yi took out dozens of wen, not even looking at him: "Go buy two more." Turned back to talk with Li Pin.
The shop waiter was somewhat troubled, hesitating a while: "Young, young master, business is really somewhat busy now, can't leave..."
"Hmm?" Ning Yi's speech was interrupted. He glanced at him, then tilted his head staring at him for several seconds. His expression was calm, just unblinking. Then his hands interlaced on the table, frowning: "Can't leave?"
"No... this lowly one... this lowly one will think of a way..."
The waiter took the money and left. After a while, he brought the century eggs again. Ning Yi put the century eggs on the table. After the waiter left, he said: "Shouldn't eat too many. Could take to the academy, let others taste. Does Brother Li want to take one back?"
Li Pin smiled: "Is Brother Ning here today for these century eggs?"
"Heh, indeed."
"Wonder why specifically?"
"Nothing much, a small bet." They'd actually finished eating. Ning Yi smiled and stuffed the century eggs in his pocket, standing up. "Brother Li, let's go."
The two went downstairs together as pedestrians on the street had also increased greatly. Ning Yi chatted with Li Pin a few sentences, looking at those restaurants over there: "Made an agreement with someone to sell at least thirty of these twenty-wen century eggs daily within a month. After all it's a new thing. Directly delivering them, they won't put them on counters to sell. Looking at this restaurant's daily income, to bribe those managers for the business of thirty century eggs isn't worth it. People also look down on it. Can only go the opposite way. Tomorrow hire some idle people, invite them to eat breakfast here daily. After six or seven consecutive days, the nearby restaurants will probably go get stock. The appearance is still good. Cut one to display outside, twenty wen should be no problem... But are all the nearby restaurants this busy every morning?"
"Merchants and travelers come and go nearby—except winter, this area is always lively, so should be no problem." Li Pin thought a while, looking at Ning Yi. "Thirty eggs is only six hundred wen of business daily. With Liheng's current reputation, as long as you can make these century eggs famous, casually it wouldn't be just thirty. Why go to such trouble?"
"Heh, this was set in the wager..." Ning Yi smiled. Actually doing various businesses often competed on connections. With Ning Yi's current fame, either write a poem for century eggs or greet someone from the Puyang family—a few hundred wen of century egg business was nothing, not worth noticing. But doing this, what difference was there from Kang Xian helping promote at banquets? The reason Kang Xian set the standard so low was also stipulating Ning Yi could only use ordinary people's methods, spending some capital to open up century egg sales.
This matter was just small methods, nothing special when spoken. Li Pin thought for quite a while: "This matter is indeed interesting. Speaking of it this way, hiring people needn't be too troublesome. Some idle people aren't too reliable. I know many friends here who eat breakfast nearby daily. Having them perform shouldn't be hard, just a small favor. And... naturally there won't be any flaws."
He looked at Ning Yi, then waved his hand again: "Naturally won't let Liheng's name leak out. I'll instruct them, have everyone absolutely not do extra things, just use ordinary people's methods. How's that?"
He was a talent equal in fame to Cao Guan. Speaking of nearby friends, they were probably mostly such people. If Li Pin really operated this, perhaps his influence was even greater than Ning Yi's current one. Therefore making such a guarantee, Ning Yi thought and nodded: "Thank Brother Li then."
The next morning, at the steps in front of the small building, Nie Yunzhu happily reported results to Ning Yi: "Yesterday six century eggs sold. Pancakes sold out really fast. This was the first time selling out pancakes, so Hutao and I are preparing to make more today. And century eggs also sold the most ever for the first time..." She was obviously happy about the pancakes, looking at Ning Yi's expression: "Good beginning. As long as the reputation opens up, selling thirty century eggs definitely won't be a problem."
Ning Yi pursed his lips, smiling in agreement, as he wasn't worried about century egg sales anyway. After three days passed, the first restaurant began having Nie Yunzhu deliver century eggs over. The group of friends Li Pin notified couldn't really reveal any flaws. Just unexpectedly, this enthusiasm subsequently brought some troubles for Nie Yunzhu...
(End of Chapter)
- Quarter hour (一刻钟) - Approximately 15 minutes in modern time ↑