The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 23: Grand Opening

"I’ve been in line for half a day, how come when it’s my turn, there’s no more green bean cake?"

"It’s not that we’re not selling it, it’s sold out. Either wait until the afternoon or buy other pastries."

"What do you mean it’s sold out? Who do you think you’re fooling? I saw clearly there are still two boxes left, you guys just took them away."

"Why are you yelling? I said it’s sold out, and that’s it. Do you want to buy other pastries or not? If not, don’t block the way and delay the people behind you."

The argument between the customer and the shop assistant was coming from the front of the line.

"Yeah, if you’re not buying, don’t block the way."

"If the green bean cake is sold out, just buy something else, no need to argue here for so long."

The customers in line behind were successfully provoked by the shop assistant and started accusing the customer who insisted on the green bean cake.

The customer was still young, with a thin skin, couldn’t withstand the accusatory looks from everyone, and left the line after stamping his foot.

Tong Huaqiong glanced over and saw it was a young man.

"What a trick, it’s just the store bullying its customers. Clearly, there are two boxes of green bean cake left, why can’t they sell it to me."

After leaving the line, the young man was indignant and spat towards Crispy Food Garden.

What made him even more annoyed was that the shop assistant obviously didn’t take him seriously.

His mother hadn’t had much appetite recently, and she just wanted to eat green bean cake.

He came early in the morning to line up, and when it was finally his turn, they said the green bean cake was not for sale anymore.

He heard it clearly; another shop assistant said Landlord Hong sent someone to order the green bean cake, and the remaining two boxes were reserved for him.

Those two boxes of green bean cake were swiftly taken down.

He was naturally upset after queuing for so long.

Doesn’t Crispy Food Garden claim to treat every customer fairly? Doesn’t everyone need to line up to buy?

But how come it’s okay as long as someone from Landlord Hong’s side says the word?

He could understand Crispy Food Garden trying to curry favor with Landlord Hong, but at least set aside the orders in advance. It’s not right to say it’s not for sale after people have queued up. Isn’t this just like cutting in line?

What made him even angrier was the attitude of the shop assistant, acting like he owned Crispy Food Garden just because he worked there.

"If you have the ability, learn from Landlord Hong and throw a bunch of silver around, then not just the green bean cake, but the whole store’s pastries would be reserved for you."

The shop assistant looked at the young man with disdain.

The young man turned red with anger.

"Green bean cake, fragrant and sweet green bean cake, made with solid ingredients."

Tong Huaqiong seized the opportunity and opened her stall with a yell.

Sure enough, the shout about green bean cake caught the young man’s attention.

Looking at that small stall, it seemed pretty clean, just not sure if it tasted good. His mother just loved the green bean cake from Crispy Food Garden.

Originally, the young man thought of going to Tong Huaqiong’s stall, but after thinking for a while, he changed his mind.

"Come, young man, try my green bean cake. I guarantee once you eat a piece, you’ll want a second one." Tong Huaqiong warmly lured the young man.

This was a tactic Tong Huaqiong learned from her past life experiences. If you yell out loud, most people feel like it’s not their business, but if you shout at someone specifically, that person feels involved.

"That’s right, and there’s a free taste test. Try it first to see if it’s good before you buy."

Gu Taohua was more aggressive than Tong Huaqiong, approaching the young man and hooking his arm, pulling him toward her stall.

The young man, unable to resist Gu Taohua’s strength, could only follow along.

Tong Huaqiong took the opportunity to stick a clean small twig into a piece of green bean cake and brought it to the young man’s mouth. Subconsciously, the young man opened his mouth, and the green bean cake fell right in.

"How is it?" Tong Huaqiong asked with a smile.

It was fragrant but not overly strong, sweet but not cloying, and the green bean paste was even smoother than Crispy Food Garden’s.

Along with the dissatisfaction he already felt toward Crispy Food Garden, the flavor that was originally five points tastier than Crispy Food Garden’s, was elevated to ten in the young man’s mind.

"Delicious, it tastes better than Crispy Food Garden’s." The young man exclaimed loudly.

Although he had thoughts of retaliating against Crispy Food Garden, he had to admit that the taste really won him over.

Tong Huaqiong smiled; she liked this grudging nature.

"Would you like to buy a piece?" Tong Huaqiong suggested.

"Can I buy them individually?"

A flash of delight crossed the young man’s heart.

Pastries aren’t meals; even if his mother wanted green bean cake, she might only eat two at most at a time. Crispy Food Garden would sell by the half-pound, and by the end, they had lost their appeal.

"Of course, one piece for six coins." Tong Huaqiong said.

The young man hesitated, "It’s a bit expensive."

"Young man, you just tried it, and I can tell you have a discerning taste. The price is justified; my green bean cake is made with solid ingredients." Tong Huaqiong explained.

"May I ask, who’s the green bean cake for?"

"For my mother."

Tong Huaqiong smiled.

She had already figured it out; the young man wasn’t buying pastries for himself. She guessed he was either buying for his mother or for his wife and children.

No matter who it was for, she had her marketing tactics ready.

"Oh, no wonder. I can see you’re a filial one. I thought, for a refined person like you, there must be a reason for causing such a scene in there, and it’s because of filial piety!"

"As the saying goes, ’Of all virtues, filial piety is the first.’ To have a son like you, your mother is indeed blessed. For your filial piety, I can’t bear to charge you full price. How about this, I’ll knock off one coin for you. Buy two pieces to take home for your mother to try, and if it’s good, come back next time, and I’ll give you the same price."

Who doesn’t like hearing nice words? Who doesn’t like praise?

Swayed by Tong Huaqiong’s compliments, the young man was overjoyed.

Anyway, since Crispy Food Garden wouldn’t sell him green bean cake, he couldn’t let his mother suffer.

So he said to Tong Huaqiong as if meeting a kindred spirit, "Alright, give me four pieces."

First sale!

Tong Huaqiong handed over four pieces of green bean cake on a clean cloth to the young man.

Gu Taohua collected the money.

The young man felt even more assured; despite being a small stall, it was quite clean, with hands not even touching the pastries.

"You can also try the green bean pie, which has a different flavor from the green bean cake." Tong Huaqiong smoothly promoted another product.

At Crispy Food Garden, you had to buy at least half a pound, and those who came to buy pastries there had the budget for half a pound of pastries. She had only sold this young man four green bean cakes, so he probably still had money to spare.

The young man tried the green bean pie.

Indeed, it had a different flavor from the green bean cake, with a crispy, crumbly crust and a delicate, sweet filling.

Even he was tempted to buy two pieces for himself.

"Give me four pieces of the green bean pie too." the young man said.

"Sure, one piece of green bean pie is eight coins. Sorry, young man, I can’t offer a discount on the green bean pie, the cost is right there. But I can add a piece of dry biscuit for free."

Tong Huaqiong pointed to the dry biscuits in the basket.

The young man initially thought it was expensive, but when he heard he’d get a free dry biscuit, and seeing how golden and sesame-topped it looked, he was happy with Tong Huaqiong’s offer.

The young man took the green bean pies and a dry biscuit, couldn’t resist, and stuffed the dry biscuit into his mouth.

The crisp, fragrant dry biscuit whetted his appetite.

The shop assistant who argued with the young man at Crispy Food Garden witnessed everything from across the street and sneered, "Fool, you’d even eat a green bean cake from that little stall."

The young man heard it clearly and became angry, retaliating, "I’ve never seen a business that insults customers as fools. If you’ve got the guts, only cater to Landlord Hong. Why do you still do business with everyone in town? I think not every customer buying pastries at Crispy Food Garden is filthy rich either. Aren’t you afraid of slipping your tongue when you say that?"

"Folks, let me tell you, Crispy Food Garden sizes people up. We spend money, and they still insult us as fools. Crispy Food Garden thinks it’s high and mighty because it’s the only store in Yan Guan Town. But I can’t stand this attitude. Don’t you know, the green bean cake and pie from this little stall taste much better than Crispy Food Garden’s."

"And they offer free samples. Everyone, hurry and try them."