The White Water Noodles represented the pinnacle of Zhang Xianglian's culinary skills so far, combining complexity and purity. Every little detail was exquisite.
It was assumed that she would open a noodle shop, but Zheng Ruqian convinced her to join the Jiuzhen Store instead, keeping her extremely busy.
The White Water Noodles were thus put on hold until Jiang Sheng wanted to open a workshop, bringing it up again.
Zhang Xianglian readily agreed, even though opening a workshop meant divulging the recipe. It was from an ancient text anyway rather than her own creation. Being able to shine in the world and help more suffering sisters in need would be her honor.
Comparatively, it was more worth deliberating on whom to sell it to.
In the past, the Jiang siblings would have unquestionably chosen You Ran House, not just because of its good reputation, timely payments, but also due to inertia built up over time.
After a few conflicts and the debacle with the Jiang Family and the real and fake young miss, Jiang Sheng started having second thoughts about this place, wondering if she should find a few other restaurants to collaborate with instead.
But doing so would be seen as opposing the Jiang Family, which was not conducive to previous cooperation either.
Everyone knew this was a tough choice, which was why Zhang Xianglian had asked.
But unexpectedly, Jiang Sheng somehow got brought to You Ran House by Yao Siqing and sold the White Water Noodles in just a couple of sentences, even signing the contract.
Looking at the black words on the white paper, the red handprints, and Fengjing's official red stamp, Chang Yan and Wen Zhiyun said in unison, "Congratulations then, little sister."
Zhang Xianglian was even more delighted, "Preparations for the workshop should also get underway."
The ingredients for White Water Noodles were not expensive. The complexity lay in the cooking methods. It was already sold for one or two taels per catty in Anshui County. One catty could make four bowls of noodles. Shopkeeper Hao sold each bowl for 500 wen, netting double the profit.
Prices in the expensive Fengjing were higher, including labor costs. The two parties tacitly doubled all prices by consensus.
There was no malicious underpricing to make things difficult for others, nor was there excessive preferential treatment given Jiang Sheng's status. A big shopkeeper would behave like one, adeptly going with the flow, but following his own principles when doing business.
No wonder Old Lady Jiang trusted him with Fengjing's You Ran House.
"I'll go rent a suitable courtyard now," Jiang Sheng said earnestly. "Auntie, when you have time, count how many aunties will come to work."
She got up to leave.
Chang Yan moved her mouth, wanting to make some reminders.
Jiang Sheng suddenly stopped walking, "Counting just means knowing who's available, not necessarily hiring them. You have to make that clear, Auntie."
The purpose of the workshop was to help more suffering aunties, but profits still needed to be made. Compassion did not mean losing money by being overly generous with handouts.
Wandering these past years, Jiang Sheng did not recognize many words, could not play any musical instruments, painting, chess or calligraphy, not even the most basic etiquette.
But she understood propriety, integrity and a sense of shame. She also knew kindness had to be meted out in moderation. She had seen miserly rich men, as well as kind souls who overdid it until they lost their family fortunes.
The villagers of Shili Pu had also taught her by example that kindness should be grounded in self-preservation first, never use good intentions as a weapon to harm oneself before harming others.
Moreover, money still had to be saved for her brothers to get married.
Jiang Sheng muttered as she strode off.
Because of deprivation during childhood, she was not very tall, and rather chubby. But with the setting sun's glow behind her, her shadow grew taller with each step.
That little girl in Anshui County who needed her brothers' protection and only cared about getting a full meal had now come to Fengjing and could finally stand on her own.
"Looks like we'll have to work harder too," Chang Yan looked back with a smile towards Wen Zhiyun, "Let's go, Fourth Brother."
"Alright," Wen Zhiyun hugged his medicine box and got up.
These two brothers either minded their own business or followed Jiang Sheng around. Rarely meeting alone.
Because each time, it probably meant someone was about to get schemed a little.
Jiang Sheng stated her requirements: cheap, big area, convertible into a workshop.
That meant it could not be in Fengjing's core area. At least an hour by carriage from the Imperial College to be cheap enough and possibly big enough.
"An hour is almost out of the city already," Jiang Sheng shook her head. "Too far."
Workshops typically operated four to five hours. Two hours commuting to and fro, an hour for meals, and some miscellaneous matters if busier. Barely enough time for four hours of sleep even if they worked harder. Although odd jobs were notoriously laborious and paid well, Jiang Sheng did not plan on exploiting them like that.
"This is the capital after all," the agent closed his notebook. "Other than core areas with wealthy aristocrats, most compounds are rather cramped. Mostly two or three-courtyard places that still don't come cheap."
In Fengjing, it was prime real estate per inch of land.
"In my opinion, instead of spending a lot renting in Fengjing, it'd be better to just buy an estate outright in the suburbs. Cheaper, more spacious, and you save on rent in the long run too," the agent was the one previously rendered speechless by Zheng Ruqian. His suggestion seemed good faith.
Jiang Sheng pondered and got up to leave, thanking him.
She had considered buying an estate, just lacking sufficient funds on hand now.
Tallying up, the siblings had been in business from Xieyang to Anshui and now Fengjing, earning as they spent. Business grew somewhat but savings did not accumulate much.
Especially after Zheng Ruqian had left and taken almost all their silver.
Luckily profits that month from the Jiuzhen Store numbered a few hundred taels. Far from enough to buy an estate in Fengjing's suburbs though.
But was Jiang Sheng poor?
No.
The Jiuzhen Store brought at least four hundred taels in profits every month. The workshop added about a hundred taels. Anshui's profits were lower but still totaled five hundred taels a year. Once Zheng Ruqian's transport blueprint was set, more profits would come.
All that could be blamed was them still being too young, accumulating for too short a time, ambitions too big that they couldn't even buy an estate outside Fengjing yet.
Jiang Sheng sighed. Just as she was about to get on her carriage, sudden sounds were heard.
The two brothers behind her instantly became vigilant, one protecting his sister while scanning all directions.
Something seemed to swiftly fly by, landing in front.
Jiang San's senses heightened abruptly, "I felt like there were footsteps just now. To think it's true. Where is this rogue from, throwing deadly weapons in broad daylight!"
Jiang Si said nothing, just stared at that thing for a long time, "Third Brother, don't you feel this is just a paper ball?"
Jiang San froze in place, ready to kill.
Who would inexplicably follow behind to randomly toss a paper ball?
An unenlightened student?
Or a patient with brain damage?
The two were still examining it when Jiang Sheng had already jumped down from the shaft and picked up the paper ball, unfolding it.
What met her eyes was clearly black words on white paper, recording a four-courtyard residence near Imperial College. Recently built, with gardens too. Just about the best place imaginable.
According to the agent's prices, just the rent for such a residence would cost three to four hundred taels a year. Buying it outright would take at least a thousand taels of silver. Why would anyone casually throw away such a valuable property deed?
Jiang Sheng looked further and unsurprisingly saw the owner listed as Jiang Chengyuan.
