Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading

Chapter 160: Selling Braised Delicacies

"I was wondering why this place has such a sour, poor smell; turns out it’s a bunch of country bumpkins."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Su Xiaoxiao looked up and saw Wang Lili, whom she hadn’t seen for several months.

Her hair was loose and curly, her face adorned with delicate makeup, and her eyes were disdainful as she looked at her. "Tsk, if someone didn’t know any better, they’d think you came here to beg. Are all you country folks like this? Coming to work without knowing how to dress up properly."

Su Xiaoxiao glanced down at herself. Although her clothes were a bit old, they were clean and decent.

"Comrade, how I dress is my freedom. If you’re not buying anything, please step aside and don’t delay the others behind you."

Su Xiaoxiao flashed her a polite smile. During work hours, she wouldn’t bother with a mad dog, especially since she was now the acting department head and needed to set a good example.

"Who said I’m not buying? I want to get some imported chocolate. Do you have any here?"

"Sorry, we don’t."

"I knew it. You country bumpkins probably haven’t even seen chocolate before, have you?"

Wang Lili fiddled with her hair, raising her chin even more smugly.

Su Xiaoxiao was now sure she was here to cause trouble.

"Comrade, you keep calling us country bumpkins. Do you look down on rural people? Without our farmers growing food, what would you eat?"

"As the saying goes, when you drink water, don’t forget the well-digger. Seems like you’re the type to eat meat and then curse the cook."

She said this with a smile throughout, and the people behind couldn’t quite hear her words; they only heard Wang Lili constantly mentioning rural people, which instantly irked them.

"Hey, lady, you keep talking about rural people. What’s wrong with us? Are we eating your family’s food or drinking your family’s water?"

"Yeah, what’s wrong with rural folks? You don’t even match up to us in manners!"

"If you trace back your lineage, you might find out you’re from the countryside too. What’s the big deal?"

Today, the department store was selling flawed noodles, attracting a lot of nearby villagers, who all turned their attention to Wang Lili.

Wang Lili’s face alternated between green and pale. This damned girl cost her a job and now her dignity; she’s determined not to let her off.

Compelled by the crowd, Wang Lili eventually left in embarrassment.

During lunch, Su Xiaoxiao took out two pieces of duck neck and offered them to Zhang Yulan: "Sister Zhang, thanks for the buns earlier. These are homemade from my family, try them out."

Among colleagues, it’s important to reciprocate kindness; she’s not someone who only accepts without giving back.

People treat her well, she’ll return the favor twofold, and if someone crosses her, she’ll make sure they fall flat.

Zhang Yulan shyly accepted them. She just gave Su Xiaoxiao a meat bun, and in return, got two big pieces of duck neck—she definitely got the better end of the deal.

"You child, you’re too polite."

Zhang Yulan opened the oil paper wrap, and the fragrant, spicy aroma immediately spread through the air, enticing everyone around who couldn’t help but turn their heads.

Qin Shuang, who brought lunch from home today, came over with her lunch box and immediately smelled the unique aroma.

The spicy, fragrant smell involuntarily made one’s mouth water.

Su Xiaoxiao waved at her: "Comrade Qin, come over here."

Qin Shuang walked over curiously, and Su Xiaoxiao quickly stuffed a duck neck in her hand: "Try it out, it’s homemade braised flavor, tastes amazingly good."

The aroma alone was enough to make one’s taste buds tingle.

Qin Shuang felt awkward taking it for free, so she pulled out two apples from her bag and handed one each to Su Xiaoxiao and Zhang Yulan.

The red apples appeared sweet and juicy at a glance.

"I don’t have much to offer either, these are from home, Sister Zhang, you and Xiaoxiao try them out."

Since she put it that way, the two couldn’t refuse.

Just then, Zhang Dongmei was passing by with her lunch box, and seeing the three, she stopped: "Hey, my mom was worried I wouldn’t eat well, so she made braised pork for me again."

Saying this, she proudly opened her lunch box, revealing the tempting braised pork inside, drawing envious looks from everyone.

Most of the department store’s salespeople weren’t well-off, and they usually brought their own lunch and ate quickly in the break room.

Zhang Dongmei deliberately dangled her lunch box in front of Su Xiaoxiao: "Su Xiaoxiao, want some?"

She intended to entice Su Xiaoxiao, knowing her family was poor, living on coarse bread, surely craving meat.

Unexpectedly, Su Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes indifferently: "As if nobody else has it."

As she spoke, she casually picked up a piece of duck neck and began eating it. The spicy, fragrant flavor immediately overshadowed the aroma of braised pork.

Then someone squeezed in: "Comrade Su, can you sell me some of your braised flavor? It smells so delicious."

Zhang Yulan had just taken a bite and realized this braised flavor tasted better than braised pork.

No way, she had to buy some for her kids to try.

Qin Shuang’s eyes were shining, having never tasted anything so delicious: "Xiaoxiao, if you have more, bring me three pounds."

Those who smelled the aroma all gathered around.

"Comrade Su, I’ll take two pounds to taste."

"Comrade Su, I want five pounds."

A crowd formed around Su Xiaoxiao, reminiscent of a department store’s frenzy for flawed products.

Zhang Dongmei hadn’t yet reacted to what happened before she was suddenly pushed out and landed with a thud.

She couldn’t even hold onto her lunch box, and half of the braised pork spilled out.

Her face turned green: "Who the hell pushed me?"

Yet nobody cared about her.

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned, never imagining her braised duck products would be so popular. Indeed, in any era, food never lacks customers.

Considering the braised flavor store had a three-day opening event, she nodded: "Everyone, don’t rush. Come register one by one, the braised flavor is homemade by my family. Tonight, we’ll make a batch according to the orders, and I’ll bring them over when I come to work tomorrow."

Then someone asked: "Comrade Su, how much for the duck flavors?"

Su Xiaoxiao thought about it and replied: "Duck necks are two dollars per pound, duck neck is three dollars, duck wings..."

Before she finished speaking, an ironic voice interrupted her: "Su Xiaoxiao, you’re too greedy. We’re all colleagues in the department store, yet you sell them so expensively?"

Su Xiaoxiao looked up and saw it was none other than Zhang Dongmei who had painstakingly squeezed in.

"Yeah, the price is quite steep. A braised pork portion in a state-run restaurant is just eighty cents."

"Exactly, duck flavors aren’t as precious as pork."

"Comrade Su, can you give us a discount?"