He Zifeng started making pancakes as soon as he arrived at the stall. His customers were impatient; many preferred to grab their food and go.
He pre-cooked the pancakes, which were inexpensive because they only required a light brushing of oil in the pan. The pancakes, made from coarse grain flour, were chewy and flavorful, with a lingering fragrance.
For those who appreciated this taste, there was nowhere else to find such pancakes.
Nearby, Qiu Yu, concerned that He Zifeng hadn’t eaten, brought out some braised pork offal. He cut small portions of each part, mixed them with spicy sauce, and sprinkled some diced radish on top, wrapping it all in a pancake. He handed the roll to He Zifeng.
He Zifeng turned to take a bite. The pancake was fragrant, and the braised pork stomach and heart inside were tender and juicy. The radish balanced the richness perfectly. Even someone like He Zifeng, who ate pancakes daily, couldn’t hide his surprise. After swallowing, he said, “Delicious.”
The braised meat paired exceptionally well with the pancake.
Qiu Yu had simply followed a hunch, but after hearing He Zifeng’s praise, he took a bite from the same spot. It was indeed good. Having skipped breakfast, he quickly finished it.
He Zifeng, still hungry, asked Qiu Yu to make another.
Qiu Yu expertly made another roll for him. Energized by the satisfying breakfast, He Zifeng continued working. Soon, the pancakes were stacked high, but he didn’t stop.
An old customer arrived, asking from a distance, “Got meat today?” The aroma had already reached him, and when he got closer, he realized it was from the pancake stall.
Qiu Yu sliced off a piece of pork stomach with a small knife for him to sample.
The customer put the tender yet slightly chewy pork stomach into his mouth. The taste left him craving more.
The type of people who bought breakfast out generally weren’t short on money, so they didn’t hesitate to spend on good food. The customer had never experienced this level of satisfaction from eating meat before. He asked, “How much for this?”
Qiu Yu, who had a natural talent for business, responded smoothly: “Six wen for a plain pancake, ten with meat.”
The customer asked, “How much meat?”
“About seven or eight small pieces,” Qiu Yu replied. The meat was finely chopped, almost like minced meat, enhancing the flavor of the pancake. While pork offal was inexpensive, the seasonings used were not. Cooking reduced its weight significantly, so this pricing made it profitable.
“Alright, make me one,” the customer said.
Qiu Yu deftly sliced a piece of meat, chopped it finely, mixed it with spicy sauce in a small bowl, and spread it on the pancake with some diced radish before rolling it up and handing it over in oil paper.
The customer, eager, took a bite immediately. His eyes lit up with delight, and he quickly took another bite, too busy enjoying the food to offer any compliments.
The pork offal had no trace of gaminess, and every piece was flavorful. “Make me another one with extra meat. I’ll pay an additional ten wen for more meat,” he said.
“Sure,” Qiu Yu agreed, taking the payment happily.
The enticing aroma drew more people to the stall, eager to try the new offering.
Meanwhile, a waiter from a nearby inn squeezed through the crowd and asked, “Excuse me, can I get thirty pancakes?”
The waiter had initially worried about the crowd and the wait time but relaxed upon seeing the stacks of pre-made pancakes—there were at least forty or fifty ready.
“Why so many today?” He Zifeng asked. Previously, the inn only ordered ten to fifteen.
The waiter, his attention caught by the meat rolls, swallowed hard before replying, “Our customers love your pancakes. Today, a few of them are leaving town and want to take some as travel food.”
He Zifeng gave him thirty-one pancakes, including one free as a bonus for large orders. The waiter, delighted, took them back to the inn. He even planned to recommend the pancakes to future guests.
With the addition of braised meat, sales skyrocketed. They sold eighty pancakes before the security escort service, their usual large customer, arrived.
Brother Liu from the escort service, a hearty eater, was immediately drawn to the meat rolls. After tasting a piece of pork heart, he exclaimed, “This is incredible!” The raw garlic mixed in elevated the flavor further.
Brother Liu, protective of his food, declared, “Don’t sell the rest. Name your price; I’ll buy all of it.”
His announcement stirred protests from others: “What about us? We were here first!”
“That’s right! If you buy it all, what are we supposed to eat?”
Qiu Yu, caught in a dilemma, said, “Brother Liu, I only made a trial batch today. How about tomorrow?”
“Fine,” Liu relented, “but make me three rolls with extra meat. I’ll also take the remaining forty pancakes.”
“Got it,” Qiu Yu replied with a smile.
Even though He Zifeng had prepared three hundred portions of dough, the pancakes sold out quickly. Customers began placing advance orders for braised pork offal, impressed by its rich flavor.
By day’s end, they had sold three hundred pancakes, along with bottles of spicy sauce and all the braised meat. Qiu Yu, buoyed by the success, planned to buy a large batch of pork offal and ingredients to prepare more the next day.
On the way home, He Zifeng noticed Qiu Yu’s joy. “Not tired?” he asked.
“Tired? Making money isn’t tiring. We need to earn more for Ranran’s education; it’ll only get more expensive,” Qiu Yu replied firmly.
“Alright,” He Zifeng agreed with a smile.
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