Aman was a Hu dancing girl, but she wasn't a fool. Naturally, she knew that the "Hu Xuan Dance" was an important selling point of Li Ji Restaurant. That's why she practiced day and night, hoping to help Li Ying.
What if someone stole the Hu Xuan Dance?
She rushed to Li Ying out of breath and told her exactly what Shi Hu had said.
Li Ying was calm. Instead, she patted Aman on the shoulder, signaling her to relax.
"Big trees attract the wind. As our business grows, it's inevitable that we'll be imitated."
Aman was still reluctant. "But sister... if the Hu Xuan Dance is no longer unique to us..."
Li Ying smiled. "Aman, you're the only Hu girl in town. You're good at singing and dancing. It's in your blood. How can other dancing girls who learn the Hu Xuan Dance in just three or five days compare with you?"
"Moreover, don't you want to take this opportunity to make the Hu Xuan Dance from your hometown popular and well - loved?"
There was some truth in her words. Aman couldn't find a way to refute. She just tightened her fists secretly. She mustn't be inferior to other dancing girls!
She rushed back to the backyard like a gust of wind and started practicing the dance on her own.
Not long after Aman left, Lady Li came with several fisher girls and waited at the door.
"Aying, they saw how prosperous the night market was and wanted to buy a recipe from you. So I brought them here."
Li Ying wasn't negligent. She cooked several snacks herself and patiently introduced them one by one.
"For oyster omelets, medium - sized oysters are fine. Make sure to wash all the broken shells and mucus carefully. When mixing the batter with scallions, coriander, and cornstarch, don't make it too thin. When frying, use high heat to quickly fry the batter until the outer skin is crispy and the oyster meat is juicy. It'll be delicious with my special sweet and spicy sauce."
"Seafood scallion pancakes are similar to oyster omelets, but replace coriander with chives and oyster meat with shrimps, scallops, and octopus legs. Fry them into thin pancakes with golden - brown sides and cut them into small pieces to eat. Fish ball soup and fried willow - leaf fish are easier..."
After the fisher girls tasted the various snacks and heard her explain clearly, and also learned that besides oyster omelets, they could also make "oyster cakes" about the size of a soup spoon by adding chives, which were easier to eat, and that hand - beaten fish balls could be replaced with shrimp balls and squid balls, they didn't hesitate to take out all their money and signed a "contract" with Li Ying.
After seeing them off, Li Ying looked at Lady Li gratefully. She must give her, the "middle - man", some commission.
Lady Li refused to accept it no matter what. Finally, Li Ying said that she would ask Carpenter Li to make a batch of bamboo tube bowls as tableware, and Lady Li reluctantly agreed.
These bamboo bowls were like disposable tableware, which were convenient for girls to buy food and eat while walking. They didn't need to be delicate, just smooth and round.
Most importantly, the words "Fishing Village's Night of Lights" were branded on the bottom of each bamboo tube. In this way, the bamboo tubes would become a unique symbol of the night market, and each snack taken away in a package would have a chance to attract more customers!
She also specifically told the children in the village to invite the peddlers who walked through the streets. She allowed them to sell their goods in the night market. These peddlers were free and mobile advertisements. She believed that within three days, the people from the neighboring towns would surely come!
Lady Li listened to Li Ying's precise plans step by step and was extremely impressed.
"Aying, I really don't know how your little head is structured! How can you be so smart!"
She was full of energy and rushed home to make bamboo tubes. After walking a few steps, she suddenly slapped her head, as if she had thought of something, and stopped.
"Aying, thanks to you, our village can live such a good life. Everyone knows it clearly and will never allow that scoundrel Yang Er to bully you! We drove him out early this morning! But I heard that he has nowhere to go and can only wander around the town. You must be careful when you go out!"
He was just a stray dog. Li Ying thanked Lady Li for her reminder but didn't take it seriously.
Tao Zhi, the manager of Tianxiang Tower, watched the Tianxiang Tower he had painstakingly managed for most of his life go to waste. He was completely disheartened. He got drunk all day and slumped against the city wall, looking nothing like his former shrewd and capable self.
"Manager Tao has survived all the storms. How could he capsize in a small gutter today and be blinded by a sparrow? It's really a pity to be so discouraged!"
A slender figure stood in front of him. Tao Zhi squinted his blood - red eyes and finally recognized that the woman in front of him was Lady Lian, the wife of the big boss.
"Manager Tao should know very well that the arm can't twist the thigh. Moreover, this Miss Li has encroached on Tianxiang Tower and boldly launched many new snacks in the night market. It's obvious that she has great ambitions. Won't the other restaurants in town feel a sense of shared fate?"
Lady Lian half - covered her face with a silk fan and smiled faintly.
"My husband most appreciates those who are indomitable and can turn the tables in a desperate situation. Manager Tao, you don't need me to tell you what to do, right?"
Tao Zhi was stunned. A strange look flashed in his muddled eyes.
"Thank you, Lady, for your advice!"
He threw away his wine flask and rushed straight to "Drunken Fairy House" and "Exquisite Flavor Workshop".
These restaurants had always been overshadowed by Tianxiang Tower. Now seeing Tao Zhi's downfall, the managers felt extremely comfortable.
Tao Zhi could really endure what ordinary people couldn't. After listening to their sarcasm, he slowly asked,
"Even I, with Tianxiang Tower, couldn't defeat that woman. How long do you think you can hold out?"
"That woman is ambitious and has befriended a noble from the capital. It's obvious that she intends to use our town as a springboard! The delicate balance among our restaurants has been broken. If we don't unite to resist the enemy, we might as well just wait to be encroached on!"
As soon as he said this, the managers of those restaurants woke up as if from a dream, and their expressions all became a bit strange.
After a long time, the manager of "Drunken Fairy House" was the first to speak. "Does Manager Tao already have a plan?"
There was a strong sense of unwillingness in Tao Zhi's eyes. Looking at the signboard of "Li Ji Restaurant", he took a deep breath and said seriously, "That woman is so reckless because she knows that the whole fishing village is behind her! If she loses the support of the people, what tricks can she play with just her and her child?"
"I've inquired. The men in charge of the fishing village will return from the sea in two days. As long as none of our shops buy their catch, these fishermen will lose their income. They'll surely take their anger out on that woman!"
Tao Zhi thought to himself: I originally intended to buy the fish catch at a high price, but you unruly villagers and shrewish women refused the toast and had to drink the forfeit. Don't blame me for being rude!
Li Ying, aren't you trying to gain the support of the villagers with small favors? Fine! I'll cut off the livelihood of your whole village!