FYN Chapter 340: Sell Fast Food
Chapter 340: Sell Fast Food
After chatting with Yang Lihua for a while, Lin Xiang was ready to go home.Before leaving, Mrs. Yang gave Lin Xiang all the meatballs that Yang Lihua had specially fried for her, and also handed over quite a few homemade dried pickles and several pieces of cured meat.
Lin Xiang couldn’t refuse and had to accept them.
Carrying the heavy basket, she returned home, and as soon as she entered the courtyard, she heard voices chatting.
"Back, sweetie."
Aunt Lin greeted Lin Xiang warmly upon seeing her, "I must say, the environment in Beijing really does raise people well. Look at our sweetie, she hasn’t been in Beijing for long, yet she’s turned into a city girl, looking totally different from us country folks."
If not for Aunt Lin’s overly conspicuous flattering smile, Lin Xiang would have reasonably suspected she was being sarcastic.
Mrs. Lin was displeased with Aunt Lin’s comments and retorted unhappily, "People are always improving, it’s normal for my sweetie to become better and better. The way you’re talking suggests as if my sweetie has become someone who forgets her roots."
"Little sister, you’ve misunderstood. Big sister-in-law just wanted to praise sweetie a bit but she’s really bad with words. I’ll stop talking, okay?"
Aunt Lin was afraid of saying something wrong again and making Mrs. Lin and Lin Xiang even angrier, so she quickly shut her mouth and quietly sat aside.
Uncle Lin had apparently been having a chat with Mrs. Lin just now, but after Lin Xiang came back, he didn’t dare continue the conversation for fear of angering Lin Xiang.
But with no one speaking, the atmosphere became even more awkward.
Seeing her mother with a hesitant look, Lin Xiang took the initiative to chat with Uncle Lin.
"Uncle, I heard from the team leader that my house, even though it’s unoccupied year-round, remains so tidy thanks to you and a few cousins helping with the cleaning. Thank you so much."
"Oh, we’re family, what’s with the thanks? It’s too distant."
After a few casual remarks, Mrs. Lin confirmed that Lin Xiang wouldn’t be upset about Uncle Lin’s visit, and she brought up, "Sweetie, your uncle’s current spicy noodle business isn’t doing well. See if you can help us think of another profitable venture?"
Uncle Lin wore a worried expression, "Sweetie, it’s really not that I want to burden you, but there are more people selling spicy noodles nowadays. The taste at our place is rather bland, and also..."
Uncle Lin glared at Aunt Lin, who was hunched up like a quail, and said with a bitter smile, "Your aunt has a small mind. When she saw the price couldn’t go up, she skimped on ingredients. For the same amount of money, other places offer much more than ours, and eventually, our already shaky business has become even less frequented."
Aunt Lin muttered quietly, "I was just thinking the business wasn’t doing well and wanted to save some costs."
The costs might have been saved, but now no one wants to eat there, forming a perfect closed loop.
Uncle Lin glared at Aunt Lin again, "It’s precisely because of you, this wasteful woman, that our spicy noodle business can’t continue!"
"I was wrong, I know I was wrong. I won’t do it again, I’ll do whatever you say, alright?"
Uncle Lin ignored her and just asked Lin Xiang, "Sweetie, you came from Beijing, experienced much, how about giving uncle some advice? Don’t worry, uncle will pay you a fee for your trouble!"
Uncle Lin was still resentful about the previous issue of buying the spicy noodle formula. Just because he paid less than Lin the Fifth or wasn’t as straightforward as Lin the Fifth, his niece simply gave the formula to Lin the Fifth without hesitation, and thinking about it made him very angry.
But Uncle Lin didn’t dare actually be angry with Lin Xiang, after all, he still needed her help to make money!
"Sell fast food," Lin Xiang suggested. "When my mom and I first went to Beijing, we sold fast food at the construction site. It’s indeed hard work, but it can earn some money. This time, as long as you don’t skimp on portions, the business should be much better than with spicy noodles."
"Fast food?"
This novel term was really beyond Uncle Lin’s understanding, so he had Lin Xiang explain it again.
After listening, Uncle Lin found it feasible, but several problems followed that he couldn’t solve.
"But we’re really just country folks, we don’t have meat tickets, we can’t buy that much meat! Besides, selling fast food may work for spring, summer, and autumn when there are plenty of seasonal vegetables in the fields. In the winter, there’s only cabbage and potatoes."
"If you can’t buy pork, you can use other meats instead, like chicken, duck, or rabbit. The government is now encouraging private breeding. Find a way to buy some chicks, raise them, and not only will they lay eggs, but you can also kill them for meat."
Although chicken doesn’t taste as good as pork, for people who generally lack meat, having any meat is quite good.
As for the details of selling fast food, Lin Xiang only gave a rough outline, made suggestions regarding pricing, portioning, and types of dishes, but didn’t specify very clearly.
Because she knew, unlike Fifth Uncle and Aunt, Uncle Lin couldn’t possibly fully listen to her advice.
Saying too much could actually plant seeds of trouble.
Having gotten the answer he wanted, Uncle Lin hurriedly went home to discuss it with other family members.
"Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, why don’t you two come to my place for the New Year dinner? I’ll have your sister-in-law prepare more dishes."
"No need, big brother." Mrs. Lin promptly refused, "We are gathering with Lin the Fifth’s family tomorrow."
"Little sister, it’s not that I’m saying this, but it’s already been years since your second brother passed away. You’re just a widow and an orphan so close to your younger brother’s family, aren’t you afraid of the village gossip?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiang slapped the table forcefully, "If we don’t stick close to Fifth Uncle’s family, should we stick close to yours instead?"
"They’re family too. Fifth Uncle and Aunt always think of my mom and me, knowing we’re coming home for the New Year, they even bought meat early to help us cure bacon. Whenever there’s something, they’re thinking of us. And you? Despite being my uncle, if my mom and I weren’t of use, would you even bother to come here?"
"Join your family for New Year?" Last year’s New Year experience is still fresh in my memory! You nicely told us you wanted our mother and daughter to join your New Year’s meal, but in reality, you were eyeing the money in my pocket, right? This year you have an additional grandson, should my mom pack an extra red envelope?"
Uncle Lin’s intentions were exposed, inevitably leaving him somewhat indignant, "Sweetie, what you’re saying is unreasonable! If I didn’t care, would I have helped clean up for you?"
"Well, when you were preparing New Year’s goods, you should have prepared some for us."
Lin Xiang pointed to the things Uncle Lin brought, "I’m not making this up, these few salted veggies and several pounds of sweet potatoes, they’re embarrassing no matter where you go."
Lin Xiang didn’t expect Uncle Lin to be like the other villagers, but he was indeed too irritating.
"Alright, alright, you’re really promising now, your wings have hardened, not even recognizing Uncle anymore!"