The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 47: VIP Customer

Tong Huaqiong saw Old Mrs. Huang’s satisfied smile.

Thinking to herself, this order is secure.

"Did you and your daughter make all these?" Old Mrs. Huang asked.

Tong Huaqiong laughed and said, "Yes. As farmers, we don’t have many other options, so we came up with a few dessert recipes at home."

"Well, you did a great job; I think they taste excellent," said Old Mrs. Huang.

Tong Huaqiong thought, these cookies were made with butter, how could they not taste good?

Not only in this era, but even in the more abundant times later, butter cookies would always be a hit with diners.

"As long as you like them, ma’am," Tong Huaqiong replied modestly.

"Madam, please try this piece of date cake," Tong Huaqiong said with a perfectly timed smile.

Date cake was not unique to the Crispy Food Garden; even the Huang Family’s kitchen could make it.

Old Mrs. Huang took a bite and smiled once more, saying, "This is even better than the Crispy Food Garden’s."

Then she tried the date paste pastry, the coconut pastry, the walnut pastry... all were satisfactory.

Seeing his mother so happy made Huang Yuanwai happy too.

"You’ve really put a lot of thought into these recipes," Old Mrs. Huang grew fonder of Tong Huaqiong.

"To be honest, I developed this recipe a while back, but I usually only bake them for our family during the holidays. I was afraid of selling them because the materials are costly and selling cheap would incur a loss. Thanks to Mr. Huang for his filial piety, telling me to bake them for you without worry, so I dared to make them this time."

Tong Huaqiong praised Huang Yuanwai’s filial piety and the wealth of the Huang Family at the right moment.

Sure enough, Huang Yuanwai and his wife, along with Old Mrs. Huang, the three major patrons, were all delighted.

"I’ve heard that Landlord Hong’s mother’s birthday party will have a famous chef from Pingchuan County, and he’s boasting everywhere about it. For my birthday, I must outshine him; you better use your skills to make some delicious and beautiful pastries for me then," said Old Mrs. Huang.

Tong Huaqiong nodded and said, "It’s rare to catch your eye, ma’am, I’ll certainly put all my skills to work to ensure your satisfaction."

Being satisfied, Old Mrs. Huang wanted to invite Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua to stay for a meal, even holding Gu Taohua’s hand, praising her for her good fortune, and asking about her marriage status.

Tong Huaqiong quickly said that she wanted to keep her daughter at home for a few more years, emphasizing that she was there for business, not matchmaking.

Gu Taohua’s marriage couldn’t be handled casually; she had to personally oversee it.

"Thank you for your kindness, ma’am, but we must decline the meal. We still have leftover pastries to sell," Tong Huaqiong politely refused with a smile.

Tong Huaqiong was contemplating how to ask Huang Yuanwai for a deposit when he took the initiative to call her aside, asking how to charge for the sample pastries delivered, how many pastries to deliver for the birthday celebration, and how to charge for them.

Tong Huaqiong reported the prices based on costs and profits.

She didn’t ask for more than was reasonable.

True to his nature, Huang Yuanwai promptly and happily paid up.

Altogether for today’s pastries and the birthday celebration’s deposit, Tong Huaqiong received thirty taels of silver.

Even as they left the Huang family gate, Gu Taohua was in a daze.

Tong Huaqiong was equally delighted.

Thirty taels of silver—this was her first tangible earnings in this world.

Since arriving, the only satisfying meal she had was the mutton soup that day; she hadn’t eaten a truly fulfilling meal yet.

She planned to use part of the silver to buy rice, flour, chicken, duck, fish, and meat, so the family could have white rice and white flour at every meal.

"Mother, did we really earn thirty taels?" Gu Taohua asked.

"Didn’t they already give a fifty-tael deposit last time? Why did they pay again this time?" Gu Taohua was a bit confused.

Tong Huaqiong sidestepped the question with a few simple words.

Since the morning was spent at Huang Yuanwai’s house, delaying their time, Tong Huaqiong decided to hire a carriage to the market.

Today’s stall was still set across from the Crispy Food Garden.

Tong Huaqiong directed the carriage to the street opposite the Crispy Food Garden, handed over some silver, and unloaded the pastries from the carriage.

She then carefully set up the sign written by Gu Jingzhe.

Taohua Dessert was open for business.

"Look, the widow and her plump daughter are here again," a clerk at the Crispy Food Garden pointed at Tong Huaqiong’s stall and said to the Shopkeeper.

"Don’t mind them. Trying to steal business from the Crispy Food Garden is purely a fool’s errand," the Shopkeeper said with disdain.

"Shopkeeper, last time all their mung bean cakes and mung bean pastries were sold out," the clerk noted.

"Did it affect our business at the Crispy Food Garden?" the Shopkeeper asked.

The clerk thought for a moment and said, "Not really."

"Then what are you worried about? Hurry up and greet the customers." The Shopkeeper waved his big hand.

Trying to compete with Crispy Food Garden is like an ant pushing a cart, too ambitious.

Crispy Food Garden didn’t become the sole giant by being passive.

Thinking a small stall can arm-wrestle with Crispy Food Garden is pure dreaming!

"Taohua Dessert? What do they sell?"

As Tong Huaqiong predicted, as soon as the Taohua Dessert sign went up, curious people came to the stall to inquire.

"We sell pastries, all kinds of pastries. Green bean cakes, green bean biscuits, jujube paste crisps, jujube cakes, sweet honey squares, chestnut crisps, cookies..."

Gu Taohua enthusiastically pointed at the pastries to start the product introduction.

Some varieties were novel, but most pastries could be found at Crispy Food Garden.

"Why buy from a small stall when you can get the real deal from Crispy Food Garden?" The man’s wife pulled him away.

Gu Taohua was momentarily stunned.

Not a good start.

They left without even asking the price.

"Mom, why aren’t they interested?" Gu Taohua asked, a bit disappointed.

Tong Huaqiong arranged bite-sized samples on a tray and then patted Gu Taohua’s plump wrist, calmly saying, "Business is always like this; no one buys just because they ask. Take Crispy Food Garden for example, with so many people passing by, not everyone buys pastries."

"Don’t worry. I’m sure someone will recognize the value."

Tong Huaqiong’s confidence rubbed off on Gu Taohua, so she stopped being impatient and put on a standard smile, calling out to passersby.

"Green bean cakes, sweet and delicious green bean cakes."

"Coconut crisps, the only coconut crisps in the entire town."

"Chestnut crisps, so flaky they’ll make your teeth fall out."

"Take a look, have a taste. Free samples, no obligation to buy. If you buy and don’t like it, it’s free..."

Gu Taohua’s calls definitely attracted a lot of people.

Among them were a few customers who had previously bought green bean cakes and biscuits. They wondered why the mother-daughter duo only set up their stall for one day and hadn’t been seen for the past two days.

They came today, and it looked like they were selling more than just green bean cakes and biscuits, with even more types of snacks.

The fragrance could be smelled from afar, very enticing.

"Auntie, do you remember me?" A shy voice spoke as a young man stood in front of Tong Huaqiong’s stall.

"Of course, I remember." Tong Huaqiong smiled, "How did your mom like my green bean cakes? Was she satisfied?"

This young man was Tong Huaqiong’s very first customer when they opened the stall, which left a deep impression on her.

"My mom said they were delicious, and they whetted her appetite. She came again yesterday, but you weren’t here." The young man smiled.

"I was at home experimenting with new recipes these past two days." Tong Huaqiong laughed, pointing to the display, "I came up with these new treats. Take a look, have a taste."

Tong Huaqiong pushed the samples towards the young man.

The young man tasted the coconut crisps, chestnut crisps, and jujube paste crisps... these pastries had a delicate, flaky crust with sweet, savory fillings, smooth as they melted in the mouth, sweet but not overpowering.

"If it’s for your mom, I’d suggest getting a few pieces of coconut crisps, jujube paste crisps, cookies, and of course, green bean cakes. These pastries are just right for a good chew." Tong Huaqiong advised.

The reason she recommended these was that they were her signature products.

"Alright, I’ll take three of each as you suggested." The young man said generously.

"I’ll throw in two pieces of sachima for you." Tong Huaqiong added.

By chance, this young man was her first customer both times they set up the stall.

Just like with Landlord Hong, he automatically became a VIP in Tong Huaqiong’s mind.

As Tong Huaqiong collected the money, Gu Taohua used a handkerchief to pick up the pastries, quickly wrapping them in greaseproof paper and handing them to the young man.

"The packaging even has writing on it." The young man exclaimed in surprise.

"I wrote it myself." Gu Taohua said proudly, her face lifted high.

The young man looked at Gu Taohua with admiration. It was surprising that this plump girl could write.

In those days, girls who were literate were admired, and Gu Taohua was no exception. Not only did the young man look at her with admiration, but others around also paused to gaze at her.

"My name is Gu Taohua, see? Taohua Dessert is named after me." Gu Taohua pointed to the sign, raising her voice.

Very soon, the name Taohua Dessert spread throughout the entire street.