Food bloggers made fortunes in ancient times

Kangrui fourth year, spring.

After the first month of the lunar year, the weather should have warmed up, but unexpectedly it has started snowing again in the past few days. The sky and the earth are all covered in silver, adding a bit of chill to the New Year atmosphere.

Song Yan rubbed his hands, looked up at the leaden sky, and muttered, "This snow is falling at a really bad time."

I don’t know how Erlin did in the exam. I calculated that he should have finished the exam today.

Fortunately, before sending Erlin to the exam, Song Yan carefully prepared all the necessary items for him, from thick and warm clothes to the pens, ink, paper and inkstone required for the exam. She checked each item several times for fear of missing anything.

With Xu An coming along, there shouldn't be any problem, Song Yan thought to himself.

This year's college entrance examination is held twice in three years. Master He believes that Song Zhengdu has been preparing for three years and it is time for him to take a gamble.

Song Zhengdu is naturally talented. If he had rashly started three years ago, he might have achieved good results, but he lacked some composure and accumulation.

When it comes to studying, you can't be impatient. You need to take one step at a time to go far.

Over the past three years, Song Zhengdu has studied hard day and night and his knowledge has improved day by day.

So at the end of the first month, Song Zhengdu set out for Guang'an Prefecture to prepare for the college entrance examination.

At noon, Gao Ruowang came to report to Song Yan on the recent accounts of the workshop.

After he finished his report, Song Yan hurriedly asked him about the relevant situation of the college entrance examination. Last year, Gao Ruowang took the college entrance examination, passed the examination and ranked among the top ten.

Song Yan originally thought that after he passed the imperial examination, he would quit his job as a clerk in the workshop and go to the county school to study.

But Gao Ruowang stayed. One reason was that his mother's illness had not yet recovered and she still needed long-term medication. If he went to the county school, his mother would have no one to take care of her.

Secondly, he wanted to save more money so that he could rent a larger house when he went to the county town and bring his mother over so that she could live a more comfortable life.

And there is Wei Taoer...

At this time, Song Yan also thought of Wei Taoer and joked, "Why didn't Wei Taoer come with you today?"

Gao Ruowang looked helpless, but there was a barely perceptible smile on the corner of his lips: "He said he would come later. He just figured out a new sauce recipe and is busy mixing it. He said he would bring it to you, the boss, to try."

Song Yan's interest was piqued when he heard this: "Then I'll wait and see his new craftsmanship. What he makes never disappoints."

In the past few years, Wei Taoer often came to learn cooking from Song Yan. In addition, he was naturally talented and had a keen sense of the combination and seasoning of ingredients, so he made rapid progress in cooking skills.

Song Yan remembered the spicy and fragrant beef sauce that Wei Taoer had made before. When she used it to mix with noodles, the taste was simply amazing. She couldn't stop eating it every time.

There is also the sweet and sour appetizing hawthorn jam, which has a unique flavor when eaten with steamed buns.

After chatting for a while, Gao Ruowang was about to go out when Shu Changyu came towards him and glanced at him indifferently.

Gao Ruowang stopped and said hello.

Shu Changyu nodded slightly as a response.

Gao Ruowang stepped aside to make way, and Shu Changyu walked straight into the house.

"Don't always have a stern face." Song Yan said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Shu Changyu leaned back in his chair and asked, "Why is this guy here again?"

"He is the accountant of my workshop. He came to report the accounting situation. What's wrong? Are you jealous?" Song Yan went over and poked his arm.

"Besides, she already has a partner. Can you please stop making blind guesses and giving her a cold shoulder for no reason?"

Shu Changyu replied lazily: "Oh?"

"You've also seen his girlfriend, Wei Taoer." Song Yan said with a grin.

"The boy who often comes to learn cooking from you?"

"Yeah, that's him."

Song Yan didn't know when the two of them became friends. She only remembered that one time Wei Taoer came to deliver some freshly made snacks to her, and Gao Ruowang was there too. The subtle atmosphere between the two of them made Song Yan sense something was going on.

At first he thought he was overthinking. After all, Gao Ruowang had always been calm and reserved, as peaceful as water, while Wei Taoer was straightforward and hot-tempered, as passionate as fire. Their personalities were very different.

Until one day, he saw Gao Ruowang teaching Wei Taoer how to read. The two of them sat close together, holding the brush with their hands folded together, and wrote on the paper stroke by stroke.

That scene was so intimate.

No matter how slow Song Yan was, after seeing this scene, he immediately understood about 70% of it.

There is indeed something fishy between these two people.

However, seeing that the two had no intention of making it public, Song Yan pretended not to know and continued to get along with them normally.

Just as he was thinking, he heard footsteps outside, followed by Wei Taoer's voice: "Boss, here I come!"

Song Yan looked up and saw Wei Taoer walking in with a clay jar in her hand, her face full of excitement.

When he entered the room and saw Shu Changyu there, he immediately bowed politely and said, "Hello, Mr. Shu."

Then he put the pottery jar on the table: "Boss, this is the new sauce I made, please try it!"

I couldn't wait to open the lid, and a rich aroma immediately filled the air.

Song Yan leaned in and sniffed it, her eyes lit up: "This tastes good! What kind of sauce is it?"

Wei Taoer said proudly: "This is the spicy sauce I made with chili peppers, peppercorns, bean paste and several spices. It can be used for cooking and mixing with noodles. It tastes especially delicious!"

Song Yan picked up the chopsticks, dipped a little in the sauce and tasted it. She was immediately conquered by the spicy and fragrant taste: "Great! This sauce tastes amazing!"

Wei Taoer chuckled and scratched his head: "Master, thank you for the compliment. I also learned this from you."

Song Yan smacked her lips, savoring the spicy and mellow taste, and tasted a familiar yet indescribable spicy aroma.

He narrowed his eyes slightly and carefully distinguished it. Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind: "Is basil added to this?"

Wei Taoer's eyes suddenly widened in surprise and admiration: "Boss, your taste is amazing! I just added some basil. I thought basil had a special aroma, so I fried it with minced garlic. As a result, the aroma of basil became very overbearing after frying."

"I added fried black beans to it, which suppressed the overbearing aroma of the basil and added a bit of salty fragrance."

Wei Taoer continued excitedly, "Then I thought about sprinkling some fried dried shrimps on it to make the aroma more layered. I tasted it and thought it tasted especially good, so I quickly sent it to you."

"Boss, please take a look at where there is room for improvement." Wei Taoer looked at Song Yan expectantly, waiting for his further comments.

Song Yan took a few more sips and closed her eyes to savor the taste.

Wei Taoer is indeed very talented in food and can even handle some subtle spice combinations just right.

He looked at Wei Taoer and couldn't help but praise: "I am already perfect, I don't think I need to improve any more."

"We will start mass-producing this spicy sauce in our workshop next month! We will first promote it to nearby restaurants and food outlets on a small scale, and let them try using this sauce to cook dishes and see the feedback from customers."

After spending a long time with Song Yan, Wei Taoer gradually understood the meaning of the unfamiliar words that occasionally uttered from Song Yan's mouth.

It is clear that "promotion" means introducing the sauce to more people, and "feedback" means collecting diners' opinions on the taste and texture of the sauce.

Wei Taoer was delighted to think that more people would enjoy the sauce she made. She said enthusiastically, "Okay, Boss! I will definitely do my best!"

Seeing his eager look, Song Yan couldn't help but smile and said, "Then I'll leave it to you. I believe you can do a great job. When the promotion goes smoothly and our workshop makes a profit, I'll give you 30% of the profits."

Wei Taoer's face flushed red, and she waved her hands repeatedly: "Boss, this is too much. I just did what I should do. I am very happy to be recognized by you. I really can't ask for so much bonus."

"Don't refuse." Song Yan smiled, "You put a lot of thought into this sauce, and you are indeed capable. This 30% bonus is earned by your own ability."

"The workshop is developing better and better now. Everyone has contributed, so naturally everyone should be rewarded. If you don't accept it, who will be willing to work for the workshop in the future?"

After hearing what Song Yan said, Wei Taoer hesitated for a while, and finally nodded and accepted it: "Well... Well, thank you, boss, I will definitely work harder!"

"That's right." Song Yan said with a smile, "Next, you write down the recipe and steps for making this spicy sauce in detail and give it to Gao Ruowang for record keeping."

"Then prepare the necessary raw materials and arrange staff to start mass production. Remember, the quality must be strictly controlled to avoid damaging the reputation of our workshop."

Wei Taoer nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, boss, I've remembered it all. I'll go back and prepare it, and try to mass-produce the sauce as soon as possible." After that, she left in a hurry.

Song Yan turned to look at Shu Changyu and said with a helpless smile: "Look at him, he is more anxious than me."

Shu Changyu replied indifferently: "I think he is enthusiastic about you."

Going to the farm every few days is too diligent.

Song Yan couldn't help but roll her eyes at him: "Wei Tao'er might have done it. He is not only good at studying food, but also very hardworking. What's rare is that he is dedicated to the work of the workshop. It's hard to find such a good guy even with a lantern. Don't be so sarcastic all the time."

Previously, Song Yan asked Manager Liu to help train reliable personnel, and Wei Taoer was one of the key targets he chose.

Sure enough, Wei Taoer did not disappoint. In just three years, relying on his own hard work and talent, he was promoted from a team leader to one of the managers of the workshop.

Shu Changyu raised his eyebrows slightly, revealing contempt: "You protect him very well. You are worthy of being the boss Song. You care so much about your servant."

"You must have drunk a few bottles of vinegar. The sour taste is too strong." Song Yan touched Shu Changyu's chin with a smile, "I just praised him a few more words yesterday. Is it necessary for you to be like this?"

Still talking too much.

Shu Changyu was impatient. He grabbed his wrist, pulled him in front of him, covered his lips, and stopped Song Yan from saying anything else.

Wei Taoer had just stepped out of the door when she suddenly remembered something, turned back, and saw this scene.

His eyes widened instantly, a trace of embarrassment and panic flashed across his face, and he quickly turned around and ran away without looking back, his soles as if they were greased.

In fact, Wei Taoer had already known about the relationship between Mr. Shu and his employer. Two years ago, when he went to the farm to deliver some freshly pickled vegetables, he accidentally saw his employer walking hand in hand with a handsome young man along the garden path.

At that time, Wei Taoer thought she had seen it wrong. She rubbed her eyes and looked again, and found that it was indeed a man.

From their intimate interactions, he instantly realized that their relationship was not ordinary.

Wei Taoer was so shocked that he stood there for a long time. It was not until his boss called his name that he suddenly came to his senses and responded with a stammering voice.

But what he didn't expect was that the host then introduced him generously: "This is Shu Changyu, my husband."

Husband...

Wei Taoer was completely dumbfounded, her mind went blank, and she subconsciously bowed and saluted, stumbling over her words: "So... so that's how it is. Congratulations to the boss, congratulations to the boss!"

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he wanted to bite off his tongue, and was annoyed at why he said such an old-fashioned and inappropriate thing.

Then he listened to the host's explanation: "We have been married for two years. We are not newlyweds, so there is no need to congratulate you."

"But if you want to make up for the gift," Song Yan said jokingly, "just make more of your specialty snacks and send them over. My two girls love them."

Seeing that her boss didn't mind at all that her relationship with the man was discovered by him and he generously acknowledged him as his partner, Wei Taoer felt like she had discovered a new world and her eyes suddenly lit up.

It turns out that two men can be together so openly. Wei Taoer's heart was filled with shock. He couldn't help but think of his deep-seated feelings for Gao Ruowang. At this moment, it was as if a spring breeze had blown over him, and he began to stir.

But soon, the cold water of reality poured down on them.

It is not easy to cross the secular barriers.

Besides, he had no idea what kind of feelings Gao Ruowang had for him.

He ran back to the workshop in a panic and sat in his own little room. The scenes he had just seen and the natural intimacy between Song Yan and Shu Changyu kept appearing in his mind.

His heart was still beating fast and the heat on his face had not subsided.

At this moment, Gao Ruo looked over and found that Wei Taoer's face was flushed and her eyes were evasive. He became even more worried. He took a step forward and raised his hand to touch Wei Taoer's forehead: "Taoer, do you have a fever? Your face is so red, and you look very bad."

Wei Taoer's whole body froze, and she stepped back subconsciously to avoid Gao Ruowang's touch. She forced a smile and said, "It's really nothing. I just came back from running and I'm hot. Don't worry about me."

But he still couldn't help but test whether Gao Ruowang knew the relationship between the Dong family and Master Shu.

Gao Ruowang was slightly stunned. Of course he knew it. He had been to the manor many times, and even if he didn't deliberately inquire about some things, he would have heard about them.

But he didn't expect Wei Taoer to suddenly ask this.

Later, I forgot who started the conversation first, but after a lot of testing and confession, the two finally confirmed their feelings and got together.

This is why Song Yan saw the intimacy between the two of them today.