Although he took a whole box of cookies with him, four people needed to go in four different directions. One box wasn’t enough, but taking four boxes would be too much.
Ji Wei made full use of modern ingenuity and decided to give each person a plate, dividing the cookies into four portions.
“One portion is to be broken up, and the rest should be kept intact.”
When walking through the streets, you need to have some appealing samples.
As for tasting, just knowing the flavor is enough; there’s no need for each person to have a piece—that would be too extravagant.
Ji Wei went to West Street.
After all, he usually sets up his stall there and is more familiar with the people around.
He had a loud-voiced man shouting the advertisement Ji Wei had prepared.
As he shouted along the way, people watched.
Everyone on this street knew Ji Wei, and when they saw him, they couldn’t help but smile behind their hands, as he had been absent from setting up his stall recently and now reappeared in such a unique manner.
Some kind-hearted vendors, seeing the situation, felt a bit sorry for him. They quietly pulled him aside to talk when he passed by.
“Little Ji, let me say something unpleasant. We’re still young, so it’s better to focus on business and earn more.”
“I noticed your pancake business was doing well. Why haven’t you been setting up your stall lately?”
“If you’re not going to set up, how about letting me take over?”
Ji Wei listened to their words, understanding that there was a hidden message, but he was puzzled about what they were referring to.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure, and suddenly everything became clear.
His original pancake stall was now occupied by someone else.
The familiar figure was so recognizable that Ji Wei if his brain was functioning properly, could not have failed to recognize them.
The “Pancake Beauty” was surrounded by people, sweating and too busy to even look up.
When Ji Wei took a closer look, he saw that they were selling pancakes!
His once calm and smiling face instantly darkened.
It was impossible not to be angry.
He had introduced these pancakes to Changliu Town, and now someone had learned from him and taken over his business and stall while he was away.
No wonder the kind-hearted vendors had been hinting to him all along to set up his stall quickly.
“Oh! Ji Wei is here!”
“Are they buying from him or the Pancake Beauty?”
“Whoever sells cheaper, that’s who they’ll buy from. There are so many people selling steamed buns on the street, it doesn’t matter which stall you buy from.”
“Forget it. It just doesn’t sit right with me. I’ll buy it next time.”
As soon as Ji Wei appeared, half of the customers at the Pancake Beauty’s stall dispersed.
The Pancake Beauty, who had been surrounded by customers, belatedly looked up and met Ji Wei’s gaze. Her face turned pale with fright, and she was frozen.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself before setting up her stall, seeing him in person was still overwhelming.
The Pancake Beauty’s heart raced, and she broke out in a cold sweat.
She stood there, guessing what Ji Wei would do next.
Would he hit her?
Flip over the stall?
Or drive away the customers?
What would he do?
Ji Wei took a deep breath and forced a smile. “What a coincidence, you’re also selling pancakes. How much for one?”
“One… one coin,” the Pancake Beauty stammered.
Ji Wei burst into laughter.
“Xiu Fen, one coin doesn’t even cover the cost, where’s your profit?” Ji Wei was not a fool; upon hearing the price, he immediately understood that this was a price war.
The goal was to drag down his business with low prices, and once he was out of business, they would raise the prices and monopolize the pancake trade on this street.
Even though pancakes are simple, not everyone wants to sell them, and not everyone can sell them.
Otherwise, there would be vendors selling various types of pancakes everywhere in later generations, and everyone would be earning thousands every month.
“There’s profit,” the Pancake Beauty insisted.
Ji Wei was correct; one pancake and one egg cost about one coin, so she was losing money with every sale.
If it weren’t for Liu Qing and others backing her financially, this stall would have been closed within three days, and she wouldn’t be so successful now.
“I’ve been supported by everyone’s business for so many years, so it’s only right that I repay everyone.”
Ji Wei applauded this statement and said with a smile, “Xiu Fen, you’re right. How about this: give me two—oh no, make it four pancakes. That’ll be four coins.”
He took out four copper coins from his pocket and placed them on the cart.
Others, not wanting to risk trouble, gave way to Ji Wei, even if they had ordered pancakes.
The Pancake Beauty had no choice but to make four pancakes and hand them to Ji Wei.
“The quality is genuine, but the cooking isn’t quite right,” Ji Wei said, taking a bite and sighing. “Look at this pancake skin; it’s a bit burnt. It seems you’re using too high a heat. It would be better to lower the flame so the pancake is cooked thoroughly and becomes crispy.”
Onlookers were puzzled, not understanding why Ji Wei was sharing cooking tips with the Pancake Beauty.
Ji Wei, however, had his plans.
He ate one pancake, gave one to the strong man who had accompanied him, and kept the remaining two for the two women who had accompanied him to the county office as witnesses.
It wasn’t too early, but they were in a hurry to set up their stalls. Most of the time, they set up and started selling quickly to secure a good spot.
Ji Wei’s pancakes were a modest gift, but they were a timely blessing.
Although there was this interruption with the Pancake Beauty, it didn’t affect Ji Wei’s mood at all.
The strong man who came with him was named Chen Nong, and he was somewhat aware of the situation between the two. It was precisely because he knew that he was puzzled.
“Why aren’t you worried at all?” If it were him, he would be extremely anxious by now.
“First, she can’t take away my business. Second, her stall might not last long,” Ji Wei chuckled and urged Chen Nong to continue shouting.
As he continued to shout, he indeed attracted a lot of attention.
And when people heard that there were free samples, they were even more interested.
Ji Wei was very enthusiastic, walking around with a plate, allowing everyone to take only a small piece, no more.
After going around, he collected the plate, smiling warmly and politely, waiting for their feedback.
“What are these called? The name sounds strange!”
“They look hard but taste crispy and quite delicious.”
“I can taste the milk!”
“This must be the thing Old Li mentioned. I have to try it!”
“How much is it?”
Ji Wei patiently answered each question.
He promoted the fact that the pancakes used a lot of goat milk, making them fragrant, sweet, and nutritious.
Many people were tempted and wanted to buy some for their children, wives, or parents.
However, Ji Wei mentioned that he wasn’t selling today, but would start selling tomorrow.
“Dear friends and fellow villagers, if you want to buy pancakes, you can come to buy them tomorrow. Today, we really aren’t prepared, so we can’t sell them!”
Everyone was disappointed.
“So how much are they?” someone asked.
“Ten pancakes for five coins,” Ji Wei’s voice wasn’t loud, but it made everyone fall silent for a moment.
“What? Did I hear that right?”
“Two pieces for one coin? Are these little things worth that much?”
“It’s too expensive, I can’t afford it!”
“But if it uses eggs, goat milk, and white flour, it won’t be cheap…”
Despite complaints, people began to accept the price, finding one coin for two small pieces reasonable.
Ji Wei was laughing inside, but his face remained calm.
After finishing on West Street, the cookies on his plate were already eaten up.
He settled Chen Nong’s wages, and Chen Nong seemed a bit reluctant to leave.
“If you have such good work next time, call me again.” Chen Nong counted the coins in his hand, smiling with joy.
After all, shouting a few times earned him more than doing hard labor. Who wouldn’t be happy?
“Of course, if you do well, I’ll call you again next time.”
After watching Chen Nong leave, Ji Wei followed the address given by Liu Yimian to find the student who made the promotional flyers.
Even before entering his home, just looking at the shabby alley made it clear how poor the student’s family was.
When he went inside, he was even more shocked.
Aside from the bed, table, and chairs, the room had nothing else.
The table was covered with a pile of paper, which Ji Wei saw were all promotional flyers.
Both the drawings and the writing were done according to the requirements.
The handwriting was elegant, the drawings were refined, and everything was harmonious.
Ji Wei took out a piece of silver and placed it on the table, casually organizing the messy stack of flyers.
He couldn’t help but point at a rope tied to the ceiling, “You’re still young, and it’s important to take care of your health. Hanging yourself up or using a thorn for study needs a healthy body to endure. Otherwise, if you don’t sleep enough and don’t eat well, even if you’re young, you won’t be able to handle it.”
The student looked a bit surprised and somewhat dejected, sighing, “I’m the only one left in the family. Besides selling paintings to earn a little money, I have no other skills or titles. Just not starving is already a blessing. I can’t afford to take care of my health.”
This was true.
How many paintings can be sold out of the many hanging on the walls of the stationery store? Even if he is talented, in such a remote town, how many people appreciate refined works?
The student clutched the silver tightly in his hand.
“This one silver coin is enough for me to eat for three months. Mr. Ji, no matter what others say about you, you’re a great benefactor to me in terms of my work.” The student bowed deeply, almost touching the ground with his hands.
This was an ancient form of great respect.
Even though Ji Wei didn’t know much about formalities, seeing this made him a bit startled. He quickly reached out to help him up.
“What are you doing? I haven’t finished speaking yet.”
“No matter what Mr. Ji wants, I will do my utmost to accomplish it,” the student said earnestly.
“It’s not a difficult task. Come to my house tomorrow, in the West Alley. Just ask around, and you’ll find it. The West Alley will be very busy tomorrow.”
Ji Wei smiled slightly, “I’ll give you something to deliver to the county school. As for this, I won’t take it with me. You can bring it to my house tomorrow.”
“Mr. Ji?” The student followed Ji Wei for a few steps.
“Don’t see me off! Tomorrow at Chen time, at Ji’s house in the West Alley, be punctual. If you’re late, this one hundred coins will be gone!”
Ji Wei’s voice, filled with laughter, echoed. The student, listening, couldn’t help but cry.
This wasn’t a bully; clearly, this was a great benefactor!
The way he heard it and how it was said, the sage did not deceive him!
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1