The South Prefecture Academy probably had over two hundred students, the oldest of whom were barely over twenty, all handsome young men.
These young men naturally had money on them, which they used to buy paper, brushes, and ink. An inkstone cost around five hundred *wen*, and even the cheapest brush was over one hundred *wen*. Among these stalls, the ice jelly seemed quite cheap.
"Free samples, choose any two flavors, sour or sweet," Cheng Loan Loan said with a giggle. "Selling cheap, three *wen* a bowl."
Zhao San Niu's hand, scooping the ice jelly, trembled. Hadn't it been two *wen* before? Why did the price increase just by changing locations? Originally, not many people bought it for two *wen*; increasing the price would probably lead to unsold stock...
While Zhao San Niu was still looking dejected, he suddenly heard a clamor of voices, and a pile of copper coins was thrown onto the table.
A young man, as elegant as a jade tree in the wind, waved his hand. "If you gentlemen do not disdain me, I wish to form a gentleman's friendship with you. I am ashamed that my purse is empty and I cannot invite you all for wine.
I can only use this humble bowl of ice jelly as a substitute; please do not find it beneath you."
"Brother, why do you speak thus?"
"We wouldn't dare trouble Brother to spend..."
A group of scholars flattered and deferred to each other.
Cheng Loan Loan counted the money beside them. She called out loudly, "That's 30 *wen* in total. San Niu, ten bowls of ice jelly!"
In an instant, Zhao San Niu seemed to be injected with chicken blood, quickly bringing out ten bowls. The ten handsome young men held plum blossom porcelain bowls and drank standing at the stall.
Cheng Loan Loan didn't know if ice jelly existed in this dynasty, but it was definitely unique to He Kou Town.
"This cool taste is no less than Hu Zhou ice."
"I was feeling sticky and sweaty in my clothes, but after a mouthful of ice jelly, the heat dissipated."
"One bowl of ice jelly to dispel the heat, two spoonfuls of red sugar to forget sorrow!"
"This rhyme is excellent!"
A scholar casually rhymed a line.
This news spread throughout the South Prefecture Academy, and soon after, many students came upon hearing about it.
Cheng Loan Loan was responsible for collecting money and taking orders, while Zhao San Niu was responsible for filling the ice jelly.
Zhao Da Shan was responsible for adding red sugar or hawthorn to the ice jelly, and also for timely washing the tableware... The mother and two sons cooperated for the first time and worked together seamlessly. In less than half an hour, seventy or eighty bowls of ice jelly were sold out.
A group of paper and brush sellers nearby stared, dumbfounded.
They had been setting up stalls here for many years. If they could sell one item a day, they would thank heaven and earth, but this aunt had sold everything in half an hour.
Was it because they were too timid, or was this ice jelly really so effective at cooling? Several hawkers craned their necks to look closer; the wooden barrel was clean, completely empty.
Cheng Loan Loan smiled sweetly at the students who arrived later and said, "I've sold out today. Everyone, please come earlier tomorrow."
The mother and two sons finished packing their things. After paying for the wooden table, they carried their carrying pole towards the main road, preparing to buy a few things to take home.
Zhao Da Shan couldn't help but ask, "Mother, why did we have to sell a bowl for three *wen* here?"
Zhao San Niu speculated, "Perhaps because those scholars look very rich?"
Cheng Luanluan shook her head. "If I only raise the price when I see a wealthy scholar, wouldn't that be intentionally swindling money? How would I be any different from a deceitful merchant? The reason I raised it by one copper coin is because this is Zhen Hekou. We rely on our own two feet to bring the ice here, so the labor cost is added in. If we were to transport the ice to the provincial capital to sell, it would have to be five copper coins per cup. That's because the travel time would be much longer."
Zhao Dashan and Zhao Sanniu nodded, half understanding, half not.