Lian’s Breakfast Shop opened on a sunny day. When Lian Manman opened the doors of the breakfast shop, she saw that there were already so people outside. The curious onlookers were peering in their direction.
At the entrance of the breakfast shop, a big red banner hung high, gently swaying in the wind. Their breakfast shop only served stead buns, baozi, and porridge, so they only hung up a banner without tassels.
A rectangular wooden plaque was also hanging above the main entrance, currently wrapped in red silk.
The family erged from the shop one after the other, with Wu Lang and Xiao Qi each holding strings of firecrackers wrapped in red paper. As soon as Lian Shouxin announced the auspicious ti had co, Lian Manman, who had prepared the lighter in advance, imdiately set the firecrackers alight and then ran away with her ears covered.
The air was filled with the crackle and pop of firecrackers, red paper scraps were blown into the air, then fluttered to the ground like petals scattered by celestial maidens. At the sa ti, Wang Youheng pulled open the red silk covering the wooden plaque, revealing two large characters fluttering like dragons and dancing like phoenixes: Lian’s.
Lian Manman had asked Wang Youheng to write these characters for them yesterday when she went to town. Knowing they were opening a breakfast shop, Wang Youheng generously donated the plaque. He had it rushed by craftsn in town and hung at the shop entrance that very day.
The commotion not only attracted passersby but also drew in so of the early-rising neighbors.
Lian Manman opened a window in the kitchen, displaying the stead buns, baozi, porridge, and at soup. The aroma imdiately wafted out. Lian Shouxin, accompanied by Wu Lang and Xiao Qi, began to lure custors at the entrance.
Lian Manman then hurried to invite Wang Youheng inside, serving up a plate of soup dumplings, a dish of fried peanuts, a dish of sesa oil mixed with pickled vegetables and lon seeds, a dish of cold, spicy bean sprouts, and a bowl of rich pork bone and radish strip soup on the table.
"Brother Youheng, try our breakfast," Lian Manman said as she handed a bowl and chopsticks to Wang Youheng.
Wang Youheng was about to take his leave, but the Lian Family insisted he stay and eat before leaving. They were touched he had co early to inaugurate Lian’s Breakfast Shop. They might not be adept with flattering words or lavish with luxuries, but their gratitude was sincere, and they treated Wang Youheng as one of their own.
Wang Youheng felt the sentint and thus dispensed with further formalities.
"Manman, you go help out. Don’t mind ," said Wang Youheng.
"Alright, Brother Youheng, have plenty," Lian Manman served Wang Youheng a baozi and left with a smile.
The situation outside wasn’t looking great.
Many people were peering in but hesitated to enter. With the shop being newly opened, everyone was skeptical and watchful.
"Uncles and sirs," Lian Manman saw a few n leaning against the wall, munching on dry food, and quickly greeted them with a beaming smile, "It’s cold outside, co in and warm up. We have hot, steaming bone soup, just One Wen Money for a large bowl."
"Hot porridge is also only One Wen Money per bowl, and that cos with a complintary dish of pickles," Wu Lang chid in.
The warm room, steaming soup, and re One Wen Money cost were quite attractive. Once the first person entered, a second followed. The first bowl of hot soup, garnished with fresh green onions and glistening oil, brought its delicious scent to the room, and yes, it was truly only One Wen Money!
Dry food scraping the throat, mouths and stomachs clamoring, One Wen Money was slapped onto the table with a snap.
It didn’t take long before the place was full, with most custors ordering soup and porridge.
Lian Manman was not discouraged; all beginnings are hard. Bowl after bowl of pork bone soup and porridge served, Wen Money after Wen Money collected in the wooden box. So people lingered, enjoying the warmth of the room. The Lian Family welcod everyone with a smile and didn’t rush anyone out. These people had things to do and wouldn’t sit there too long.
Finally, soone bought Sanhe flour stead buns. Lian Shouxin personally delivered the buns, inevitably extolling their virtues not only for the buyer but also for all the custors in the room.
"Delicious, filling, and affordably priced."
No need for excessive praise, as long as every word fits the custors’ wishes, that was enough.
One group left, another arrived.
Lian Manman, sitting next to Lian Zhizhi who was tending the fire, perched on a small stool with a wooden box on her lap, rummaging through a thick stack of Copper Coins. Just as she had anticipated, on the opening day, the pork bone soup and porridge were the best-sellers. They had already sold three pots of pork bone soup, a pot of porridge, and nearly two stear racks of Sanhe flour stead buns.
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