It was early March, and spring was in full swing—grass growing, orioles singing.
Chen Zhiwei’s workshop and new home were finally complete.
The three main rooms of the house were solid and bright, but the real eye-catcher was the spacious workshop beside them: wide windows, blue-brick floors, clearly divided functional areas.
Villagers passing by couldn’t help but murmur in admiration.
On the day of the move, Chen Zhiwei did not throw a lavish feast. She prepared a few simple dishes and invited the village chief, Zhang Meng, Grandma Zhao, and other neighbors who had genuinely helped her family. The spread was modest, but the aroma of the braised delicacies was irresistible. The newly tested vegetarian chicken and dried bean products were uniquely flavorful, earning high praise from all.
Zhang Meng smacked his lips and said, “Little Wei, with this new workshop, our village’s beans won’t have trouble finding buyers anymore!”
Everyone at the table felt the truth of his words, and the meal was filled with hope for the future.
Chen Zhiwei smiled and agreed, already planning her next step: the town market was approaching saturation, so her sights had to be set on the broader horizon—the county seat.
On the day of hiring, Chen Zhiwei specifically asked Uncle Youcai, the village chief’s son, to help record applications, since few villagers could read or write. Naturally, this service cost extra; she paid forty wen for a full day of record-keeping.
When Madam Wang and Chen Dajiang came to apply, they were directly rejected. Chen Zhiwei had already warned that none of the old Chen household members would be employed.
“No need, then. A little girl wants to learn running a workshop like some big house. If it fails, and wages can’t be paid, you’ll just cry!”
“Exactly! They’ve only done a few days of braised meat business—how much money could they have saved? Building such a big house… suddenly rich, and still think they can resist their luck!”
Zhang Meng wanted to intervene, but Chen Zhiwei held him back.
Sure enough, a few villagers, previously hesitant, were swayed and started asking about wages.
“One month paid once, thirty wen per day. If you can’t come to work on a day, you can take leave—but no work, no pay that day.”
“See! If it’s monthly, what if at the end of the month there’s no money to pay wages? The whole month’s work would be wasted!” Uncle Youcai’s words had barely ended when Madam Wang started complaining again.
“Can’t wages be paid daily? We’re all from the same village and won’t just skip work.” More villagers began wavering.
“One month paid once. If that’s unacceptable, you can back out now,” Chen Zhiwei said coldly, her tone deliberate. She meant to reassure some, but she had her limits.
After all registrations were done, Chen Zhiwei handed fifty taels of silver to the village chief and announced to the gathered villagers:
“Your concerns are valid, so I’m putting fifty taels here with the village chief. If anything happens in the workshop, your wages are guaranteed. Registration is done. Those hired will be notified by Uncle Youcai. That’s all—disperse.”
“Stubborn Madam Wang! If not for you, we might have signed up and gotten in.”
“Exactly! Chen Dashan, can’t control your wife and can’t shut your mouth yourself… truly bad luck for our village having you two around.”
Amid the villagers’ muttering, Chen Dajiang and his wife slunk away, tails tucked.
The workshop was to officially open the day after tomorrow.
Chen Zhiwei had prepared extra braised meat and bean products, hired Chen Dagang’s ox-cart, and headed to the county seat.
The county was bustling, far beyond a small town’s scale: a dense crowd, shops side by side.
Chen Zhiwei didn’t rush to sell. She spent half a day carefully observing the main markets and food streets, taking note of foot traffic, dishes, and prices. She realized that consumers in the county were wealthier and more discerning, but competition was fierce; every restaurant had its signature dishes and established suppliers.
After comparison, she selected two restaurants with different target customers:
She first visited Drunken Immortal Hall. The staff were initially indifferent toward the young, plainly dressed girl, but Chen Zhiwei calmly explained her purpose and opened the small clay jar she brought. Instantly, a rich aroma of mixed spices and savory meat-like fragrance filled the hall, catching the attention of waiting customers.
“What’s that smell?”
“Seems to be from that girl’s jar…”
The owner, drawn by the scent, immediately approached, his attitude changing. Chen Zhiwei served a small plate of richly braised, deep-red dried tofu and firm-textured vegetarian chicken for tasting.
The owner hesitated at first, but after tasting, his eyes lit up. These bean products were remarkably close to meat in texture and layered flavor! The braising sauce was rich, fragrant, and lingering—far beyond ordinary soy sauce seasoning.
“Miss… what is this? The taste is extraordinary!” the owner exclaimed.
“This is my family’s secret braised dried tofu and vegetarian chicken,” Chen Zhiwei calmly explained. “It’s a traditional recipe—unique to our home. If you’re interested, I can deliver a daily supply as a specialty appetizer or vegetarian dish to attract more customers.”
The owner, shrewd, immediately saw the business opportunity: this unique flavor could differentiate his restaurant from competitors. After some negotiation, they reached a preliminary supply agreement at a price thirty percent higher than the town’s Baiwei Hall: 100 jin of braised products and 200 jin of bean products daily for a trial.
Buoyed by this first success, Chen Zhiwei next visited Kelaixiang. It was bustling, full of smoke and chatter. The plump middle-aged owner tasted her samples and appreciated the flavor but pushed back on price.
“Miss, the products are good, but my shop runs on thin margins. Your price is too high. We also have a long-term tofu supplier who’s cheaper.”
Chen Zhiwei smiled calmly. “Sir, you get what you pay for. My braising method and spices are unique; the texture and flavor of these bean products are unlike ordinary tofu. Your shop serves many customers who want affordable but tasty dishes. My braised tofu and vegetarian chicken cost slightly more than ordinary bean products, but are far cheaper than meat while offering unique taste. Perfect for repeat customers. If it’s too difficult, I won’t push. I’m sure ‘Ruyi Restaurant’ on the next street might be interested.” She began packing her samples.
Kelaixiang’s owner, fearing a competitor might get the products, quickly changed his tune: “Wait, Miss Chen! Price is negotiable. Let’s try your products at your price for now. If sales are good, we can discuss long-term cooperation.”
Chen Zhiwei had successfully opened doors at two county restaurants.
Yet, since these restaurants focused mainly on braised meat, her bean products still needed small shops for wider distribution.
After visiting several small shops, each placed trial orders of 20–30 jin.
Enough for now—once they tried it, the orders would surely increase.