Chapter 68

  "Steamed buns? What steamed buns?"

  "It's a kind of pancake, can also be round, made from fermented flour, with salt, and baked." Cheng Dalai said, gesturing with both hands.

  "Is that... a pancake?"

  "It's not a pancake, it's bigger than a pancake and softer than a pancake."

  Mantou?

  "Bigger than mantou, baked."

  Sun Jiu looked embarrassed: "The master of the house is knowledgeable and has seen a lot, I haven't heard of these things."

  Cheng Dairen's understanding of bread was limited to this, and he wasn't a baker either. He had only watched a documentary and understood the general process, but if he were to do it himself, he wouldn't be able to. So they had to refer to Sun Jiu's opinion and come up with a rough idea together.

  "Key... should be on the stove, we need to build a stove."

  Cheng Dali and Sun Jiu walked out of the hall, found a few people with experience in bricklaying, and pondered how to build the bread oven.

  It is said that a stone from another mountain can be used to polish jade, and with Su Qing's help in managing the wine house, Cheng Dali still has some confidence. Although he is not a chef, he knows the general method of making many dishes from his previous life, and together with Sun Jiu, they are mostly able to get it done.

  After all, Sun Jiu, an excellent chef of this level, wasn't given for free. As long as everything goes smoothly, a constant stream of new menus will pour into Su Qing's wine tower, and completing the system task won't be a difficult thing to do.

  He intended to cultivate a group of chefs and send them to Su Qing's place. This matter would naturally be handed over to Sun Jiu to do.

  "Great master, you really overestimate me. I will definitely not disappoint your trust." Sun Jiuming was visibly excited, he didn't expect that this former kitchen servant who used to be ordered around would also have the opportunity to manage others.

  "Go on...!" Cheng Dairen didn't understand where Sun Jiu's tearful expression came from, he thought to himself if he should also say something about leadership skills or whatever, but after holding it in for half a day, all he could manage was: "I have high hopes for you!"

  The road to making bread was not too smooth, sometimes it was overcooked, sometimes it was undercooked, but ultimately it wasn't too difficult. After experiencing some failures, I finally succeeded in baking my first batch of bread.

  That day, everyone in the Toad Village tasted a food called bread. This previously unseen food, with its unique flavor, was very popular among the crowd, especially among the children.

  Cheng Dalai was worried that the bread wouldn't be well-received, but seeing this scene put his mind at ease. From now on, he just needed to cultivate a few people who could bake bread and send them to Su Qing's place.

  The production capacity is limited, and the bread made every day can't even feed all the people in the mountain village. As a result, Sun Jiu's status in the village has also risen with the tide, and this feeling is something he has never experienced before. He feels like he's walking on air these days.

  After successfully making bread, Cheng Dalai brought Sun Jiu over and said, "Next, we should study how to make a pot bottom."

  ……

  Falling Leaf City

  Money can make a ghost grind a mill, and in this world, as long as you have money to pave the way, most things will go smoothly.

  Cheng Dalai sent over a hundred taels of silver, enough for Su Qian to redecorate the wine tower. It only took ten or so days, and inside and out it was completely new. Just as they were about to reopen, Su Qian ran into some trouble.

  "Can't you really hire anyone?" Su Qing asked the tavern owner: "Wages are no problem."

  "It's no longer a matter of wages, even if I offer money to hire someone, I still can't find anyone willing to come work at our restaurant."

  These past few days, Xiao Er and the cook suddenly vanished without a word, just as the wine shop was about to reopen, but now they can't find anyone suitable to hire.

  "There's something else..." The shopkeeper hesitated.

  "What's wrong?"

  "I'm sorry, mistress. My elderly mother is seriously ill at home and I fear I won't be able to serve you again."

  "You're leaving too!" Su Qing exclaimed, then suddenly came to her senses and said slowly: "Shopkeeper, is there something else going on here?"

  "Madam, I'm sorry for what happened, I don't want my wages."

  "Shopkeeper, you're also an old friend of the Su family. Now that you want to fire me without keeping me on, at least give me a clear explanation and pay my wages in full."

  The shopkeeper's face changed expression, and after enduring for half a day, he pointed to the outside of the door: "What's going on inside, don't you understand it yourself, boss's wife? Why force me?"

  Following the direction of the shopkeeper's finger, it was indeed the prosperous Four Seas Building. The shopkeeper Li Datou stood at the door with a rather spirited and elegant demeanor.

  At that moment, Su Qian suddenly understood. Li Shi - the current Mrs. Su of the Su family - had always regarded herself as a thorn in her eye and a stab in the flesh. Su Qian was not unaware of this, but she never thought that she would be driven out of the Su family and end up in this broken wine tower, and yet Li Shi still wouldn't let up, determined to eliminate her completely.

  "Is it necessary to be so cruel!"

  At this time the sun sets in the west, darkness falls, and Su Qing feels the autumn chill coming from all sides. If Li's family really intervened in this matter, things might be difficult to handle.

  Tomorrow, the wine house is about to open for business, and a lot of chicken, duck, fish, and meat have been prepared. However, at present, there are only myself, Xiaodie, and brothers Liao Jia and Liao Yi left in the wine house.

  "Miss, why don't I take the money and try my luck again at the slave market?"

  In this era, there is also a specialized talent market for each industry, and most people can be found through it. If you want to hire someone, you have to go through the economic channels of this era, which are called "牙行" (pawnshops). Even if you have money, you may not be able to find anyone without going through these channels.

  "Going is also in vain, now no one dares to respond to our call."

  "Miss, what should we do?"

  Su Ying had no choice, she and Xiao Die were just two weak women, if Li Shi had the heart to target herself, she really couldn't afford it. Perhaps leaving was the last resort, but she didn't want to leave Luoye City as Li Shi wished, there was still some resentment in her heart.

  Just then a big head poked in and asked: "Is it Miss Su?"

  "Who are you?" Su Qing's face showed confusion, now people who called her "Miss" were already very few.

  "Little Sun Jiu, pay respects to Eldest Sister-in-law." As he spoke, Sun Jiu waved his hand behind him: "Everyone come in, it's right here."

  At first, Su Ying didn't understand what was going on, but as soon as she heard this title, she understood everything, and it was him who sent her again.

  As they spoke, more than a dozen people followed Sun Jiu in, including both men and women in their thirties or forties.

  "Hello, elder sister-in-law!" The group of people stood in a row in front of Su Qing and greeted her simultaneously.

  Su Ying covered her forehead with her hand, inexplicably feeling a headache coming on.

  "Alright, alright, don't call me that from now on."

  "Big sister... boss's wife, it was big brother who sent us here. If there's anything in the future, just let us know."