Chapter 361: Taste It First

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Despite a day’s fatigue, Shopkeeper Niu found Qiao Mai in the evening after hearing about the ice cream.

“Boss, if you have something good, why not bring it out?”

“You made so much money in a day. Isn’t that enough?”

“Hehe, making money is addictive. When your good stuff is released, the money from wealthy families will flow in. It’s a good way to help the commoners.”

“Fair enough. Here’s the deal: the shop will only offer twenty boxes a day. In addition, supply a barrel of beer. It’s getting hot. I believe this thing will sell well. ”

Shopkeeper Niu was puzzled, “What is beer?”

“It’s a type of alcohol. Ice cream is sold by the box, and beer is sold by the cup. Sell both, and don’t sell them short.”

With a wave of her hand, Qiao Mai summoned a box of ice cream and a barrel of beer. Yuan Jiaqi put down the book in his hand.

“Wife, this barrel looks nice.’

“It’s made of iron. Come, let’s taste the beer.

Qiao Mai opened the lid and thought using a bowl wouldn’t do justice to it. With another wave of her hand, three transparent beer mugs appeared.

Shopkeeper Niu stared wide-eyed at the magical display. Qiao Mai could conjure anything, even crystal beer mugs. The beer must be good.

After taking the first sip, he smacked his lips. “Boss, it’s refreshing and cool, good for quenching thirst. However, the taste and color might make people think it’s something else.”

Yuan Jiaqi chuckled, “The description is quite apt.”

Qiao Mai glanced at them. “Drink more and savor it a few more times.”

They continued drinking, and the more they drank, the more they felt the beer had a sweet aftertaste. Most importantly, it was refreshing. They weren’t heavy drinkers, so they didn’t get addicted to the beer.

Qiao Mai finished a cup in one go. “Old Niu, try this ice cream and set a price.”

After tasting the ice cream, Old Niu’s eyes lit up, “Boss, I like this. Look at the delicate box. I won’t sell this box for ten taels less. “And what about the beer?”

“I’ll set the price at two taels of silver per cup.”

“It’s a bit low. Let’s try selling it first. You can’t sell too much — one barrel of beer and twenty boxes of ice cream, first come, first served.”

“Yes, Boss. I’ll take my leave.”

Shopkeeper Niu happily walked away while holding the ice cream. Qiao Mai

smiled, “This man is more addicted to making money than I am.”

“He’s taken to his boss.”

“Come, let’s finish this barrel of beer.’

“Sure, I’ll risk my life to accompany my wife.”

Although it was beer, it was still alcohol. After a few cups, Yuan Jiaqi was drunk.

The next day, news of the new products from Qiao’s Small Eatery spread throughout the capital. Upon hearing the news, many food enthusiasts rushed over.

Ling’er, upon learning of it, went directly to Qiao Mai to get two boxes. She had tasted ice cream in childhood but hadn’t had much since then.

She invited Jiamei, and the two sat at the door, eating and watching the shop. “Sister-in-law, since you’re pregnant, only eat half a box. I’ll finish the rest for you.”

“Okay.”

“Look at those food enthusiasts. They’re queuing up for a bite. They don’t seem like the nobles they claim to be in front of us.”

“In front of us, they don’t need to pretend.”

“That’s true.”

Indeed, with the current status and position of the Qiao household, they were unmatched other than the emperor.

Some customers in the shop happily enjoyed the new products they purchased, sitting at the tables and cheering up those still waiting in line.

“Take your time in the queue. Today, we have two new items – beer and ice cream. I bought both, but they were a bit expensive. Make sure you have your money ready; I’m tasting them first for enjoyment.”

The person held a small wooden spoon, eating with contentment and humming pleasurably.

This made those around him envious. Before long, both of the new products were sold out.

Those who managed to taste them were ecstatic, expressing their joy with lively gestures. Those who missed out could only stand aside, swallowing their saliva. Upon hearing that these items were only available for a limited time each day, they secretly vowed to start queuing up before dawn.

Haha!

In the evening, the whole family sat around the table in the courtyard of Yuexian Pavilion.

Chuan’er occasionally picked up dishes for Jiamei. Being soon-to-be parents, they were delighted. Everyone discussed the new products from the shop.

At this moment, the sound of a carriage approaching the door caught Qiao Mai’s attention.

“The emperor just left, but they’re coming again?”

Everyone turned to look and saw Yubao entering on his own.

“The servant has come to give his respects. Greetings.”

“Why did the emperor send you?”

Yubao awkwardly smiled.

“His Majesty heard that your family has a new product called beer. He sent me to get a barrel.’

“How impolite.”

Despite Qiao Mai’s unwillingness, she still loaded a barrel onto the carriage for him.

“Open it and drink. It shouldn’t be kept overnight.”

“Yes.”

In the palace, the emperor eagerly awaited while the empress and Eleven smiled.

“It doesn’t matter. We’ll go to her house tomorrow.”

“Visiting frequently annoys people. I won’t be well-received. After I abdicate, I’ll live at her place.”

Yubao hurriedly returned to the palace, had the barrel carried into the main hall, and enthusiastically announced his success.

“Your Majesty, the beer has arrived. I heard that this beer doesn’t get you drunk. It doesn’t taste good at first, but if you drink a few more sips, you’ll love it.”

Several palace servants placed the barrel on the table, and Yubao promptly opened it, setting out the beer mugs.

“Madam Qiao sent this to you. She said this beer should be drunk in this kind of mug. Now, her shop is also using these.”

The emperor’s mouth twitched, and he realized she was the only one with glass cups for wine.

The barrel was filled, and there were even bubbles on top — how peculiar!

The three eagerly grabbed a mug each. After taking the first sip, they smacked their lips. “The first sip is cool and tasteless. Come, let’s have another sip.”

After finishing the first cup, the emperor touched his belly.

“This beer is not bad, but I can’t drink so much.”

Yubao quickly explained, “Your Majesty, the beer can’t be kept overnight after opening.”

“Then give me another cup.”

“I’ll have one too.”

“I’ll have one too.”

“Alright. The rest is for you, Yubao.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

A barrel of beer, about a dozen cups, was praised by those who tasted it. The key was that women could drink it.

This beer was not filling even after two cups and didn’t make them drunk.

In three days, ice cream and beer dominated the capital. Many people would send their servants to queue up before dawn, eager to get a taste.

To Qiao Mai, introducing new products to Qiao’s Small Eatery added a few hundred taels of silver daily. Over a year, that was tens of thousands.

She didn’t care much about these profits. During this time, she wanted to prepare a dowry for Ling’er.

With Ling’er’s current status as the future Crown Princess and empress, the dowry had to be generous.

During the day, when Yuan Jiaqi was at work, Qiao Mai entered the space and searched with Greeny in front of the computer. Nothing below the best would do. Ordinary worldly items were nothing; a single eighth-grade pill was enough to have everything.

Even the dowry boxes were made of sandalwood. It was evident that Qiao Mai attached great importance to her daughter’s wedding.

She prepared one hundred and sixty dowry carts. Diamond accessories filled ten boxes, jade accessories ten boxes, gold accessories ten boxes, top-quality pearls ten boxes, and ginseng and reishi were over a hundred years old.

Clothes, shoes, rare fabrics, top-quality tea, finished jadeite rough stones, complete sets of hair care, skin care, shower products, and various cute gold nuggets came in boxes.

And that didn’t include the beautiful carriages, top-quality horses, a spiritual beast, and so on.

She, the mother, was well-prepared. Ling’er also prepared eighty carts for herself. The betrothal gifts were sent to the Qiao family in June – a hundred and twenty carts.

Qiao Mai calculated – three hundred and sixty carts. It was quite a number. She didn’t expect that Old Mistress Wang would send twenty carts, Wang Zongsheng would send twenty carts, several families in Tianshui Town would jointly send twenty carts, Princess Mu would send five carts, Miss Xiao would send five carts, so that made a total of four hundred and thirty carts..