Chapter 141: Yunwu Roast Duck
Before leaving, Qiu Rongrong finalized the roast duck collaboration with Wen Yao. This roast duck wouldn’t count toward the two monthly new dishes for Zui Xian Tower—it would have its own separate contract. And Qiu Rongrong, being generous, offered Wen Yao a forty percent profit share, as she planned to lease the small building next to Zui Xian Tower and turn it into a dedicated roast duck shop.
The name of the shop was also decided between the two. At first, Qiu Rongrong wanted to call it “Rongyao Roast Duck,” combining a character from each of their names. Wen Yao flat-out rejected it—something about that name just sounded off. In the end, drawing inspiration from the roast duck of her previous life in Beijing, she proposed the name “Yunwu Roast Duck.” If it gained traction in the market, it could become a signature dish of Yunwu Town itself.
The idea received enthusiastic support from Qiu Rongrong. And just like that, even before the shop was secured, the name Yunwu Roast Duck was born.
When Manager Qiu heard that they planned to open a roast duck shop, he didn’t hold back either. He offered to personally write the calligraphy for the “Yunwu Roast Duck” signboard, and would have someone carve it into a proper plaque. Once the shop was ready, it could be hung up right away.
Both Qiu Rongrong and Wen Yao were overjoyed. Qiu Rongrong, especially, was thrilled. Just thinking about how Xie Yushan, who had tried everything to win favor with this man, could never get close, yet now the calligraphy for her shop’s signboard would be penned by him personally, made her feel an immense sense of satisfaction. She couldn’t help but wonder how her husband would react once he found out.
She was actually kind of looking forward to it.
Aside from the roast duck shop, Wen Yao also mentioned that her family planned to raise ducks themselves.
Qiu Rongrong didn’t hesitate: “Why not? This roast duck shop is half yours anyway. Of course we should use your family’s ducks. Just have your second and third aunts raise them. No matter how many ducks you have, Yunwu Roast Duck will eat them all.” She had confidence to spare—her sights weren’t limited to Yunwu Town. If the roast duck took off, she fully intended to expand into other towns, with her parents’ hometown at the top of the list.
If her parents could see the life she lived now, they’d surely feel proud. After all, the Qiu family’s children were born to run businesses.
The happiest ones were Lady Li and Lady Cai. Both promised repeatedly that they’d raise the ducks well—plump and juicy, the perfect ducks for roast duck.
As for Old Madam Luo, when Qiu Rongrong said that all future bean paste for the roast duck shop would be supplied by her, the old lady was completely stunned.
Making bean paste wasn’t hard. In rural households, everyone had a few jars in their cellar. But once they partnered with Qiu Rongrong, it wouldn’t just be for home use anymore—it would be sold for profit.
“Grandmother, is it the price that’s unsatisfactory? If twenty copper per jin feels too low, we can renegotiate.” Qiu Rongrong thought Old Madam Luo was hesitating because the price wasn’t high enough.
In truth, twenty copper per jin was already fair. Zui Xian Tower paid the same when sourcing from outside. She offered the market rate—not going out of her way to cut a deal, but not lowballing either. Business was business, even with friends. Personal bonds were one thing; profit was another.
Old Madam Luo quickly waved her hand. “No, no, I just worry I won’t do it well and end up affecting your business.”
Wen Yao held her grandmother’s arm and winked at her. “Grandma, you’ve got this.” Worst case, they could hire someone to help. But if they missed this chance to make money, the next opportunity might not come.
Encouraged by Wen Yao, Old Madam Luo mulled it over again and again, then gritted her teeth and agreed. “I’ll give it a try.” And if it didn’t work out, she’d pull her younger sister in—after all, both of them had learned these skills from their mother. They knew how to make bean paste and pickles. If she brought her sister in, it might even help her out a little.
After all the guests had left, Old Madam Luo sat in Wen Yao’s new house, still feeling like she was dreaming.
“Old man, pinch me,” she said to the flushed-faced Old Man Wen, who’d had a few drinks.
The words startled Old Man Wen sober. He stared at her in shock. “Crazy old woman, what now?”
Old Madam Luo didn’t answer. She just glared at him, and before he could react, she pinched him hard on the leg. The sudden pain snapped him completely out of his drunken haze, and his yelp drew everyone’s attention.
Old Madam Luo looked at him and muttered, “Guess it’s not a dream after all.”
Old Man Wen clutched his leg and howled, “What’d you pinch me for?!”
Everyone looked on in confusion.
Old Madam Luo glanced around and suddenly said, “I just feel like life right now… it’s like a dream.” Just think about it—they’d gained over ten mu of land, sent three kids to school, and now had two new businesses lined up?
Old Man Wen got huffy. “So you pinched me for that?”
He was honestly a bit upset. The old woman and the daughters-in-law now all had business ventures of their own, and him? He was still farming the land with his three sons. One of whom was the very scholar he’d spent half his life nurturing.
Thinking of this, he cast a fierce glare at Wen Xiuyi.
A scholar, huh? And now he spent all day with them in the fields?
So frustrating.
Wen Xiuyi: “…Why is it my fault again?”
Everyone burst into laughter.
“Grandpa, Grandma, let’s talk about where to raise the ducks. Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Second Aunt, Third Aunt—what do you all think? Where’s the best place to raise them?” Wen Yao suddenly cut in and steered the topic back on track.
“We need water for ducks. Tie Niu’s family has a pond right outside their house, and they let their ducks out there every day. If we’re going to raise ducks, we can’t just go crowd them,” said Lady Li.
Lady Cai thought for a long time, then blurted out, “Why don’t we dig our own pond?”
The moment she said it, everyone—including Wen Di and Wen Jin—looked at her like she’d grown a second head.
Even Old Madam Luo stared at her third daughter-in-law in disbelief. She usually never spoke, and now this? When she did open her mouth, she sure made it count.
Lady Cai, flustered by all the attention, stammered, “Did I… say something wrong?”
Seeing her about to shrink into the ground, Lady Li couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst into laughter. Her loud guffaws echoed across the whole courtyard.
Lady Cai immediately looked like she wanted to hide behind Wen Xiuqing.
Old Madam Luo shot her second daughter-in-law a glare, then turned to soothe the third. “Don’t be afraid, nothing wrong with what you said. Your second sister-in-law wasn’t laughing at you, I promise.”
As for digging a pond… this daughter-in-law really had some bold ideas.
Then, out of nowhere, Wen Xiuyi—who had just been the victim of misplaced blame—spoke up: “Actually, what little sister-in-law said isn’t a bad idea.”
Hmm?
Everyone turned to look at Wen Xiuyi in unison.
