After the Scholar Rejected Me, I Married the Rogue and Got Rich - Chapter 54

“Yang’s advantage is that his shop is warm and he imitates our mutton offal soup, but his disadvantages are also obvious—” A shrewd glint flashed in Lin Sang’s eyes, “First, his soup base is definitely not as generous with ingredients or as well-cooked as ours. Over time, customers will be able to taste the difference; second, his shop used to specialize in noodles, and suddenly switching to mutton offal soup might not be as refined; third, his shop has limited space, and with the same prices as us, his profit margin is probably thin.”

“Then what should we do?” Wang asked anxiously.

Lin Sang pondered for a moment, then slowly revealed her thoughts:

“First, we need to take our soup base to the next level. I’m thinking of breaking up the lamb bones and simmering them to let the marrow dissolve into the soup, making the soup milkier and the flavor richer and more mellow. Yang Laowu might not be willing to put in this effort.”

“Secondly, we can add some ‘unique features’ that other restaurants don’t have. I’d like to try making ‘lamb spine hot pot’!”

“Lamb spine?” Both Lin Laoda and Wang Shi were stunned.

That stuff has little meat and a lot of bones; it’s usually only fed to dogs or eaten by people who are too poor to afford it.

“Yes!” Lin Sang nodded firmly. “Lamb spine is cheap, but the meat close to the bone is the most delicious. We use an old broth, add more spicy spices to remove the gamey smell and enhance the flavor, and stew the lamb spine until it’s very tender. We put it on a small clay stove on the table so that customers can cook and eat at the same time. It’s hot and comforting, and you can eat meat and drink soup. You can also add some cabbage and tofu. The price can be set a little higher than lamb offal soup, but it will be affordable. On this cold day, isn’t it more comfortable to sit around the stove and eat a hot pot than to sit in the shop and drink a bowl of soup?”

“Third, we need to retain our old customers. For these remaining regular customers, we should give them more generous portions and occasionally give them some homemade pickled vegetables. If we maintain good relationships with them, they won’t easily drift away.”

As Wang and Lin listened to their daughter’s clear and logical analysis and novel ideas, the gloom in their eyes gradually dissipated, and hope was rekindled.

Lin Sang’s idea of ​​”lamb spine hot pot” was indeed a brilliant idea, but Wang immediately raised a practical problem: “Sang Sang, this idea is good! But the pot has to be placed on the table, and the customers need a place to sit and eat slowly! In the past, everyone at our stall either squatted or stood with their bowls in hand, so where did we get tables and chairs?”

This is indeed a problem. It costs a lot of money to buy a decent set of tables and chairs, and since they are mobile vendors, they have nowhere to store the tables and chairs after closing up shop every day. They can’t just carry these heavy things back and forth every day.

The family was troubled by this problem. The eldest son squatted on the ground and said in a low voice, “How about I go find some old wooden planks and nail together a few simple benches?”

Lin Sang shook her head: “Dad, that’s too rough. It’s uncomfortable and unstable for guests to sit on. It would be troublesome if they got burned.”

Just when everyone was at a loss, Lin Sang glanced at his own covered oxcart, then looked at the relatively flat open space behind the stall, and a flash of inspiration struck him.

“I’ve got it!” She stood up, a smile spreading across her face. “We don’t need to buy those big tables and chairs. Dad, do you remember Carpenter Chen’s house? He must have a lot of leftover wood scraps from his work, or some short, low-waste wooden stumps and small stools. We can go there and buy or rent some cheaply.”

She walked over to the oxcart and gestured, “We don’t need high tables, just these low square tables, or even sturdy wooden planks placed on a few stable wooden blocks! We can also use small stools or low benches, with the guests sitting around the low tables and the clay stove in the middle. The height is just right, making it convenient and comfortable to eat!”

“That’s a great idea!” Boss Lin’s eyes lit up. “The low tables and stools don’t take up much space. When we pack up, we can just stack them on the oxcart. It’s so convenient! Carpenter Chen is an honest man. I’ll go talk to him about it. It’ll definitely work!”

Wang nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes, yes! The low table around the stove makes it look lively! I’ll go get a few feet of thick coarse cloth and sew a cushion for each stool so it’s softer to sit on and won’t be cold on your bottom when it’s cold.”

No sooner said than done! The next day, Boss Lin went to find Carpenter Chen.

When Chen the carpenter heard that the Lin family needed the tools and that they had encountered difficulties at Yang’s noodle shop, he was very generous. He immediately found seven or eight smooth, appropriately sized tree stumps and a few thick planks. With a little work and rounded edges, they became simple tabletops.

He also gave the Lin family more than a dozen small stools that he usually made for retail at a very low price, almost like a free gift.

“We’re all from the same village, so let’s help each other out! Use these first, and come back for more if you need more!” Carpenter Chen said readily.

Old Lin thanked him profusely and pulled him back.

Wang worked through the night to make more than a dozen thick cushions using old cotton and coarse cloth.

A few days later, when Lin’s stall was set up again, a new, eye-catching sign appeared next to the original signboard: “Lin’s Signature Lamb Spine Hot Pot, Warming and Dispelling the Cold, Unique Flavor! Welcome to gather around and enjoy!”

Several low wooden tables were arranged in a staggered manner, with small stools with cushions around them. On each table was a small clay stove that was lit, with a pot of bubbling lamb spine sitting on it.

At first, people adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

But soon, the bubbling hot pot of lamb spine, emitting a rich and spicy aroma, and the diners sitting around the small clay stove, sweating profusely and enjoying their meal, formed a unique scene on the dock.

This novel and affordable way of eating, especially the warmth around the stove and the fun of gnawing on bones, quickly attracted everyone’s attention.

“Hey! This lamb spine hot pot is so flavorful! It’s really satisfying to eat!”

“It’s much more interesting than just drinking soup! And it’s warming too!”

“That girl from the Lin family is so clever! That’s a great idea!”

The regulars returned, bringing with them even more curious new customers. The monotonous mutton offal soup at Yang’s Noodle Shop instantly lost its appeal.

A queue formed again in front of the Lin family’s stall, even more popular than before! The lively atmosphere and cheerful laughter seemed to be the most powerful response to this cold winter and malicious competition.

Lin Sang looked at the bustling stalls again, exchanged a glance with her parents, and smiled at each other.