The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 24 The big benefactor

As Tong Huaqiong listened to the young man promoting his family's mung bean cakes to those around him, everyone wanted to burn incense and make offerings to him.

What a lovable character!

People may not necessarily be interested in her small stall, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't want to get a good deal.

Free samples, how tempting!

It's a fool not to take advantage of a good deal!
Even though Tong Huaqiong was influenced by the various marketing tactics of later generations, she would still try out free samples of new products in supermarkets!

Moreover, there are people here.

Su Shi Yuan doesn't offer free samples; their motto is "take it or leave it."

When people in line at the Su Shi Yuan stall heard that they could sample the food for free, there was indeed a commotion, with many people at the back of the line leaving to gather around Tong Huaqiong's stall.

"Can I really try your mung bean cakes for free?" an elderly woman in the crowd asked.

"My dear sister, please try it and see if it's good. It's okay if you try it but don't buy it."

Tong Huaqiong forked a small piece of mung bean cake and held it to the old lady's mouth.

She was happier that the older woman patronized her stall than the younger man.

The older women have a natural talent for spreading information. Just like in later generations, they know exactly where to get free eggs or which supermarket has discounts on rice, flour, and cooking oil.

You can try it even if you don't buy it!

An uproar immediately erupted in the crowd.

"I think it tastes pretty good."

It's free, only a fool wouldn't eat it!

Anyway, if the mother and daughter got sick from eating it in broad daylight, they wouldn't get away with it either, so the old lady swallowed the mung bean cake that Tong Huaqiong handed her without hesitation.

Then a slightly conservative evaluation was given.

However, from the old lady's face, Tong Huaqiong could tell that the old lady was a little surprised by the deliciousness of the mung bean cake. She knew perfectly well that the reason for giving a conservative evaluation was just to warm up the atmosphere for bargaining.

Just like in her past life, when her mother took her shopping for clothes, no matter how satisfied she was, she would always find fault with them.

She knows all the tricks.

Sure enough, your aunt is your aunt; the aunts in this land have always been incredibly powerful throughout history.

"This is pretty good, my dear sister. My mung bean cakes are made with really generous amounts of ingredients. You'll find them sweeter and more fragrant than usual. Just these mung bean cakes, guess how much sugar I used? A whole two pounds of sugar."

This made the people who had gathered around even more interested.

What kind of family background do they have? They used two pounds of sugar to make this small amount of mung bean cake.

What if sugar were flour?

"Yes, it's a bit sweeter than what I ate before," the old lady nodded.

"How much?" the old woman asked.

“We’re a small business, so we can sell in small quantities. These mung bean cakes are six coins each, mung bean pancakes are eight coins each, and dried biscuits are three coins each. How many do you want, ma’am?” Gu Taohua said happily.

Great, once the price was quoted, everyone knew the deal was done!
Tong Huaqiong was very satisfied with her chubby daughter's performance.

"This is a bit expensive," the old woman said, her eyes gleaming with shrewdness.

They were both older women, and they understood each other's thoughts. Tong Huaqiong held the older woman's hand and said earnestly, "Old sister, if you like it, you can buy two pieces first. To be honest, we've worried about our families for half our lives. Let alone six coins a piece, even if this mung bean cake was made of gold, would your children say a word against you if you bought it?"

Sure enough, after a few words, the old lady made Tong Huaqiong a close friend.

That's right. She's worked hard all her life. Does that mean she can't even have a choice when it comes to eating a piece of mung bean cake?

So he patted the copper coins in his waistband, making a clattering sound, and said, “My children are all filial. If they weren’t, would I be queuing up so early to buy mung bean cakes? But sister, these mung bean cakes are delicious, but they are indeed not cheap. The reason I came to your stall is that the queue at Su Shi Yuan is too long. I need to hurry up and buy them so I can go home and hang my clothes to dry.”

"If you don't give me a discount, I'm not in a hurry. I can come to Su Shi Yuan in the afternoon and queue up anyway."

This is the tug-of-war of bargaining.

Tong Huaqiong really couldn't let her go, so she said with a troubled expression, "I call you sister, please don't make things difficult for me. My husband died early, and it's not easy for me to come here with my daughter to sell pastries."

After playing the victim card, Tong Huaqiong whispered, "How about this? You buy two mung bean cakes and two mung bean pancakes, and I'll give you a dry biscuit for free. Just look at the sesame seeds sprinkled on this dry biscuit; you can tell how generous the ingredients are. This way, you won't lose out, and I won't lose money either."

The old woman was persuaded by Tong Huaqiong and took out a copper coin, saying, "Alright, let's do it this way." Gu Taohua took the money, and Tong Huaqiong wrapped up the mung bean cakes, mung bean pancakes, and dried biscuits and handed them to the old woman.

Before leaving, the old lady tried two more mung bean cakes from the sample box.

That old lady never misses a single bargain!

No, this tasting box must be limited to one piece per person, otherwise Tong Huaqiong's business will be ripped off before it even opens.

Then, led by the old lady, many people stepped forward to try the food.

After trying the samples, everyone bought them.

Firstly, the mung bean cakes and mung bean pancakes are indeed delicious; secondly, they can be sold in small quantities, which reduces financial pressure; and thirdly, Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua are not only clean people, but they also keep their stall very clean, which makes people feel at ease.

Therefore, business is booming!
Before long, only the bottom layer of mung bean cakes and mung bean pancakes remained in the basket.

"I'll take the rest of yours."

After tasting the food, a middle-aged man with a protruding belly and short neck, fanning himself, pointed with his fan at the mung bean cakes and mung bean pastries in the basket.

Tong Huaqiong was secretly delighted.

Thinking of that famous skit line, "A big head and a short neck means either a cook or a tycoon," judging from the silks and satins on this middle-aged man, he must be a tycoon!
Logically, Tong Huaqiong would be very happy if someone bought all the remaining mung bean cakes and mung bean pancakes.

But this time, Tong Huaqiong didn't want to do that.

Because of her free samples, a large crowd had already gathered around.

If she sells all the remaining mung bean cakes and mung bean pancakes to a wealthy man, wouldn't the rest of the people be disappointed?

What's the difference between this and Su Shi Yuan keeping all the remaining mung bean cakes and giving them to a wealthy man?

She needs to cultivate a persona of fairness and impartiality.

"This Mr. Huang is really something. If you have money, go to the Su Shi Yuan (a famous pastry shop) and buy it. Why are you competing with us?"

The whispers among the crowd only strengthened Tong Huaqiong's resolve.

“Master Huang, I am honored that you would think so highly of me and patronize my small business. No wonder people say that Master Huang is the most compassionate towards the poor and weak. Seeing this today, I can see that you are right.”

Tong Huaqiong smiled and flattered Master Huang.

Just like how we address wealthy people as "boss" in later generations, here we can't go wrong by calling them "master."

When Mr. Huang heard Tong Huaqiong's praise, he happily puffed out his belly.

It seems that his reputation for kindness has indeed spread, even to widows who have never met him before.

“But I can only sell you a maximum of eight of each of these mung bean cakes and mung bean pancakes,” Tong Huaqiong said.

What?
There's no reason to turn someone away when they come to you for help.

Master Huang didn't understand; he just thought this widow wasn't very bright, and yet she was trying to do business.

“It’s not that I’m unwilling to sell it all to you, Mr. Huang, it’s just that everyone wants to try it. Could you buy eight first and leave the rest for others? I wouldn’t dare to ask anyone else, but I’ve heard that Mr. Huang is the most amiable person, so I’m asking.”

After Tong Huaqiong finished speaking, Master Huang's emotions calmed down.

It seems this widow is a kind-hearted person, and she is thinking of the other customers.

Alright, alright, let's do as this widow requests. Her mung bean cakes and mung bean pancakes are even more delicious than those from Su Shi Yuan.

Unfortunately, Su Shi Yuan's mung bean cakes were sold out.

He had just secretly inquired and learned that the mung bean cakes had been withheld and given to Master Hong. He already disliked Master Hong, and after learning the truth, he had a problem with Su Shi Yuan.

"Alright, we'll do it your way," said Master Huang, fanning himself.

“I’m not like some people who don’t pre-order and wait for everyone to line up to buy all the mung bean cakes. Are they showing off how rich they are?” Master Huang took the opportunity to put a jab at Master Hong.

Tong Huaqiong smiled and said, "Not everyone has the same vision as Mr. Huang. If you enjoy the food, Mr. Huang, please order some for me in advance and I will make it for you and deliver it to your door."

With such a powerful backer, it wouldn't be Tong Huaqiong's style not to cling to him tightly.

Master Huang was delighted to hear this and said, "Can you make other pastries? My mother's birthday is in seven days, and she wants to order a batch of pastries. She complains that she eats the same few kinds of pastries all the time in Pingchuan County. If you can make different kinds, I'll give you all the pastries for my mother's birthday."

Tong Huaqiong's eyes lit up. "Of course!"

(End of this chapter)