The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 72: The First Probe by Competitors

"May I taste?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

A young man in a gray outfit and hat approached the stall and asked Tong Huaqiong.

"Sure, sure, sample tasting means free tasting, come on, pick any piece you want." Tong Huaqiong handed the young man a toothpick.

"Very considerate."

This widow is quite health-conscious.

The young man speared a pastry he hadn’t seen before, with a crispy outer layer and a purple filling inside.

Then he put it in his mouth and began to chew. As the pastry touched his lips and teeth, his eyes instantly lit up.

It’s way too delicious!

No wonder Crispy Food Garden has lost quite a few customers these past days, no injustice there.

This morning, an old clerk at Crispy Food Garden scornfully said that the reason many customers visit Taohua Dessert is, first of all, because the pastries are cheap, and secondly, because the mother and daughter rely on their looks to attract customers.

As for the latter, he could see with his own eyes. This mother and widow, though quite pretty, already have grandchildren, who could she attract? Her daughter’s name, Taohua, stirs imagination, but she’s too fat, enough to punch down two people at once.

How can this mother and daughter rely on their looks to sell pastries?

That’s why he believed that many old customers switched to supporting Taohua Dessert because the pastries were cheap. Cheap pastries likely used cheap ingredients, judging from the alluring aroma in the air, who knows what kind of flavoring they used.

Therefore, he tasted it with contempt.

After eating, his views completely changed, as someone at Crispy Food Garden who’d seen the world, he could tell from a taste if the ingredients were good or not.

Clearly, Taohua Dessert uses solid ingredients.

"What ingredients are these pastries made from? They’re delicious!"

The young man wanted to spear another piece, but Tong Huaqiong blocked him.

"This is our new pastry from Taohua Dessert, the main ingredient is taro paste, called Taro Paste Crisp. Because it’s expensive, the sample tasting is limited. If you want more, you’ll have to buy it." Tong Huaqiong said to the young man.

"Taro Paste Crisp?" The young man was very curious.

"Would you like a few?"

Tong Huaqiong smiled. Taro in this era is a rare commodity, not yet widely cultivated in the north, generally offered as a tribute to the royal family and aristocrats, making it hard for ordinary Northern folks to have.

This taro paste, naturally, was a result of Tong Huaqiong’s magical space ability.

In her past life, the large-scale use of taro paste in pastries happened in the years before she transmigrated, being highly popular for its rich and delicate taste. Many people couldn’t resist taro paste and became ’taro-heads’.

She believed that in this relatively scarce era, anyone eating Taro Paste Crisp could turn into not just a taro head, but a taro-body.

In this era, just like butter cookies, she is a pioneer.

She had great confidence in her Taro Paste Crisp. Even though it was priced high and not as easily sold as chestnut crisps or mung bean cakes, she believed that those who recognized the quality would buy with just a taste.

"I’ll take four pieces."

The young man wanted more, but the shopkeeper gave him a limited budget, allowing for just one or two pieces of each variety.

Buying four was already over the limit.

The shopkeeper said that since they were buying to study the recipe, not to fill their stomachs.

"Get two pieces each of this butter cookie, chestnut crisp, coconut crisp, date cake, mung bean cake, and Sachima."

The young man ordered two pieces of each of Taohua Dessert’s highly praised pastries.

"Got it! Here you go." Gu Taohua wrapped up the pastries, tied them with a string, and handed them to the young man.

"A total of 500 wen," Tong Huaqiong stated.

The young man handed the money to Tong Huaqiong and turned to leave with the pastries.

"You’re buying our pastries to study the recipe, right?" Tong Huaqiong suddenly remarked as the young man turned away.

Exposed!

The young man blushed slightly, even though he had deliberately changed his attire and wore a hat.

There were several clerks at Crispy Food Garden, and he was always behind the counter there. How did the widow recognize him?

Naturally, Tong Huaqiong could recognize him. Even though he was behind the counter, he kept glancing at Taohua Dessert.

If Tong Huaqiong weren’t an older widow, she might think this guy had a crush on her.

"Next time you come to buy, just come openly, I’ll sell to you just the same. In this town, anyone who comes to my door is a guest, and that includes the clerks of Crispy Food Garden." Tong Huaqiong said.

She spoke with confidence. Anyway, even if Crispy Food Garden researched their recipes, they would be lacking in taste due to missing ingredients.

Silver from Crispy Food Garden is silver nonetheless; she earns whoever comes to buy.

The young man didn’t expect Tong Huaqiong to recognize him. Embarrassed, he pulled his hat down to cover his eyes and hurriedly fled with the pastries.

Despite being recognized, he still detoured past the nearby bun shop and left through the back door.

Tong Huaqiong wanted to laugh, what an ostrich with its head in the sand.

"Shopkeeper, I bought them." Hong Xiaoxi handed the pastries to Manager Feng, not daring to mention that Tong Huaqiong had recognized him.

Manager Feng placed the pastries on the table, planning to have the store’s chefs study them carefully later that night.

He had underestimated this widow from Qinghe Bay, who indeed had some skills.

In just two days, Taohua Dessert had become famous throughout the town, and that morning he heard from some other customers that the pastries for Huang Yuanwai’s mother’s birthday banquet were ordered from Taohua Dessert.

In the past, pastries for Huang Yuanwai’s birthday and festival banquets were always ordered from Crispy Food Garden.

Wow, what a move by Widow Tong—quietly stealing away Huang Yuanwai, a big client.

"Shopkeeper, is there anything else you want me to do?" Hong Xiaoxi saw that the shopkeeper wasn’t pleased and cautiously asked.

"No, you can get back to work." Manager Feng replied.

Hong Xiaoxi changed out of his clothes, took off his hat, and went behind the counter to draw in customers.

Tong Huaqiong looked over at Crispy Food Garden and flashed Hong Xiaoxi a V-sign. Startled, Hong Xiaoxi almost dropped the pastry in his hand.

This widow really is something!

"Taohua Dessert, come have a taste, take a look." Tong Huaqiong smiled warmly, calling out even louder.

Being targeted by Crispy Food Garden made Tong Huaqiong feel quite excited.

What does this mean? It means she was considered a competitor to the top desserts in Yan Guan Town.

In business, what’s feared is not being without competition, but the worst is when the competitor doesn’t bother to pay attention, leaving you to silently fail.

If she could win this battle against Crispy Food Garden, she could establish her foothold in Yan Guan Town, and perhaps even open a pastry shop to challenge Crispy Food Garden, maybe even replace it.

By mid-afternoon, the pastries at Taohua Dessert had sold out.

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua the mother-daughter duo happily counted the money, joyfully discussing splurging on two roasted chickens to celebrate.

Manager Feng stood at the window on the second floor of Crispy Food Garden, pushing it open to look towards Tong Huaqiong.

The sign for Taohua Dessert hadn’t been removed, standing blindingly in the sunlight, irritating Manager Feng’s eyes.

He’d worked at Crispy Food Garden for ten years, helping the owner monopolize the pastry business in Yan Guan Town. During that time, many other pastry shops had opened, but all were shut down by him.

The annual bonuses he received were considerable, making a comfortable living off Crispy Food Garden.

He would never allow Taohua Dessert to grow strong. With his tactics, Taohua Dessert should be out of Yan Guan Town, just a fleeting loser.

"Just a widow."

Manager Feng yanked the window shut.

He still didn’t regard Tong Huaqiong as important, thinking that taking down Taohua Dessert wouldn’t take any effort.

Just a snap of the fingers.

Let the widow enjoy her few days; within a few days, Taohua Dessert would disappear from Yan Guan Town.