Before Boss Qian could even figure out what was going on, another crowd came surging down the street, pointing at Guaizai.
"There they are, those two kids are over there."
"I can smell it. Come on, come on, let's go take a look."
Instant noodles took a while to soak, but they cooked faster. By now, Zhao Ger had already prepared a bowl each for Guaizai and Liuliu. He boiled the noodles, fried an egg, added some greens, sliced some sausage, and sprinkled chopped scallions. Though they had never eaten it before, just looking at it made it seem really good — nice and red, appetizing at first glance, not to mention the aroma that kept drifting into their noses.
"Hey there, Fulang, make me a bowl just like that."
"Boss, how much is it?" Guaizai chimed in at just the right moment.
Zhao Ger said, "That'll be eighty copper coins." Guaizai counted out the copper coins and handed them over, then picked up the tray. He noticed Fang Zichen's burning gaze and didn't dare look up. He hunched his neck, hugged the bowl of instant noodles, and scampered off to "attract customers."
Zhao Ger looked at the man who had spoken first: "This customer, do you still want yours?"
Boss Qian: "......"
Want what?
Forty copper coins for a bowl of noodles. How much could the intestines cost? Just a few pieces, probably only a few copper coins. Add a fried egg, and twenty copper coins would be more than enough. Outside, beef noodles — beef is so expensive — yet a bowl is only twelve copper coins. Good heavens, forty copper coins. Is Fang Fulang here to rob people of their money?
The common folk of Shangyang weren't poor. They were willing to spend three hundred copper coins on a plate of vegetables, but that was because the dish was cooked by a chef dug out from the capital. It was worth that price. But was a bowl of noodles worth this?
Whether it was worth it or not aside, it really did smell amazing. And the noodles didn't look like what was sold outside — all curly and wavy, looking very different. It was only forty copper coins! Just treat it as trying something new. Besides, he was really hungry right now.
The big man waved his hand grandly: "Cook it."
"Alright." Zhao Ger took out several packs of instant noodles: "Our noodles come in braised beef, spicy beef, mushroom chicken, pickled cabbage beef, and hot and sour beef. Which flavor would you like?"
"Ah! There are flavors to choose from?" The big man paused: "Which flavor did you just cook for that short, big-headed kid?"
Zhao Ger: "......Spicy beef flavor."
"Then cook that one."
Tang Fulang was slicing braised intestines on the side, his heart trembling uncontrollably.
People outside were really generous. Forty copper coins for a bowl of noodles, and they ordered without even blinking.
The people nearby weren't in a hurry. They would wait until he finished eating before taking a look. And setting the noodles aside, those intestines — pig offal! The sort of thing that... that... how could anyone eat that? And yet, it did smell amazing.
The instant noodles cooked quickly. In no time, they were ready.
The man paid, and Uncle Tang next to him had just set up a table. He sat down and could eat right away.
Everyone watched as he picked up a chopstick-full of noodles and put it in his mouth. His eyes immediately lit up. He hadn't even swallowed before someone urgently asked: "Lao Li, how is it?"
Lao Li didn't say a word. He swallowed the mouthful of noodles, then hurriedly picked up another chopstick-full and shoved it in. But there was pitifully little in a pack of instant noodles — three chopstick-fulls and it was gone. He moved on to the braised intestines.
"Lao Li, don't just eat! How does it taste? Come on..."
Lao Li didn't answer. He turned his head first and called out to Zhao Ger to cook him another bowl.
No need to ask. Everyone saw how he was wolfing it down, not even sparing the soup. What was the point of asking?
Everyone knew Lao Li well. He had three shops and six courtyards, living off rent. His family had some money, and he was famously picky about food.
"This fulang, cook me a bowl too."
"I want one too."
"Put two fried eggs in mine."
"I want those intestines in mine."
Everyone surrounded the stall. Someone saw Boss Qian standing there dumbfounded, like his soul had left him, and patted him: "Brother, are you here to eat instant noodles too?"
"No, not exactly..."
"Then why are you taking up space?" Before Boss Qian could finish speaking, he was pushed to the side.
In just the blink of an eye, Zhao Ger's stall was surrounded three layers deep.
Boss Qian: "......"
Wasn't Fang Fulang selling braised intestines? No, wait — how could he be so stupid? If he sells intestines, why set up a stove outside? He had wondered about it earlier — with so much cargo, could it all be intestines? But intestines could be bought anywhere. There was no point hauling them in from out of town. Would intestines from elsewhere even taste better? And that much stock couldn't be braised in just a day or two — it would rot. So what was actually in there?
Now, seeing those packs of instant noodles, he understood.
There were too many people. They really couldn't handle it all, and there weren't enough tables. Boss Qian was still thinking of having people go sit in his shop to eat, but before he could even open his mouth, another crowd came pouring down the street.
Fang Fulang's son was running at the front, hugging a bowl.
Boss Qian: "......"
This kid really knows how to attract customers. He's got the potential to be a waiter! How long had he been out, and he'd already brought in such a big crowd.
Guaizai saw them all noisy and clamoring, and immediately called out in his cute, milky voice: "Line up, line up."
Everyone also felt that pushing and shoving like this wasn't going to work. They were about to back out and line up, but there were so many people, and the line was so long. Nobody had eaten breakfast yet. Who knew when they'd get their turn in this line? Maybe they should just go buy some steamed buns instead.
Fang Zichen came out of the inn holding a copper gong and struck it twice: clang, clang.
"Good news, good news! Fellow villagers who are in a hurry and don't want to wait in line, look over here!"
Everyone looked over curiously.
Fang Zichen held up a pack of instant noodles and began his pitch.
What?
No need to cook? Just soak in hot water?
Just soak it and eat anytime — can soaking alone really cook it? How is that possible!
Does soaking make it taste the same as cooking? Just as fragrant? These people hadn't seen Zhao Ger cook it.
But the earlier crowd had seen it — just heated a pot of water, then put the noodles in. When the instant noodle pack was opened, there were three little packets inside. After the fulang added those things, the noodles became fragrant.
No special secret craft needed.
Like those noodle sellers outside — how to simmer the broth, how to knead the dough to make it chewy — those are all secret skills. They couldn't do it themselves. If they wanted to eat, they had to go to the shop.
But this was different.
Fang Zichen demonstrated right in front of them. Poured in hot water, covered it with a plate, and in just a few minutes, Fang Zichen lifted it and pointed at Lao Li, asking if he wanted to taste it — no charge.
Of course he would.
After tasting it, the flavor was indeed the same.
"Oh my heavens, how is this so magical?"
"If you want to add vegetables, just blanch them and toss them in. You could make fragrant noodles yourself at home, no need to keep running out to eat."
"So how much for one pack?"
"Thirty-five copper coins," Fang Zichen said. "Folks, thirty-five copper coins — you can't lose out, you can't get cheated."
"Give me three packs first."
"I want six packs."
"I'll take ten."
The imperial guards went to the back courtyard to bring the goods and busied themselves packing for people.
Wang Da watched everyone grabbing at them like crazy, his heart pounding.
Thirty-five copper coins a pack! So expensive, and yet, yet they were still willing to buy. When he heard Fang Zichen announce the price today, he was both shocked and scared.
The lord really just says whatever comes to mind — how could this price possibly sell?
He had been poor his whole life and had no idea about the consumer psychology of people outside.
Some people have money and buy sports car after sports car, spending millions without blinking. But the common people feel that with that money, it'd be better to save it or buy a house — those are practical things. Is a sports car worth millions? It doesn't even have a plastic bag to put things in. And they've all got four wheels — a van has more space and only costs tens of thousands, also has four wheels, and runs just the same. A sports car can't seat many people, and can't carry things either. Visiting relatives during holidays, or going somewhere to haul stuff — it's all inconvenient.
But rich people are hunting for novelty, for face, for fashion.
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