Time, a relentless river, flowed onward, and soon, Monday arrived. Xu Ying, with the dawn, began preparing the duck. After more than an hour of meticulous marinating, the rich flavors had permeated the meat, and the air was thick with an intoxicating fragrance.
As the restaurant doors swung open for business, Xu Ying strategically placed the glistening braised duck products right beside the cashier. She stood to one side, her voice clear and resonant, calling out to the eager crowd: “The braised duck product is officially launched today! Duck wings, duck feet, duck neck, duck clavicle—all available! New products today! Buy duck and get a small plate of vegetarian dishes for free!”
From the sidelines, Gao Guihua curled her lips in disdain. “Sure enough,” she muttered, “she looks just like a capitalist. It’s truly embarrassing for a state-owned restaurant.”
Those who had tasted the duck just two days prior felt a thrill course through them at Xu Ying’s announcement. They licked their lips, longing for that unforgettable taste. “Master Xu,” one man called out, “I’ll take these duck feet, duck heads, duck wings, and duck intestines. Give me two of each!”
“Okay!” Xu Ying replied, her movements swift and efficient. “You’ll also get a small plate of vegetarian dishes. The duck dish costs two yuan in total. You can pay here.”
A woman in the queue winced. “Hey, that’s so expensive! Pork is only more than eighty cents a pound. This small plate of duck is so pricey. It’s just bones with a little meat. What’s so delicious about it?” Her tone was full of pain at the thought of the cost.
But the customer who had just made his purchase merely shrugged. “This duck product is delicious! Sweet and spicy, incredibly enjoyable, and it can even be a meal in itself. It’s even better with a bit of wine!” Some people, it seemed, valued flavor above all else, price be damned.
Xu Ying, unfazed, offered a warm smile. “Duck products are a bit expensive, it’s true, but they’re incredibly delicious. They’re troublesome to make, and the cost isn’t low. Duck heads and duck wings might be cheap, but they require a lot of ingredients, and the seasonings are all Chinese medicines. These are all costs. And this duck has to simmer for two full hours. Pork is just stir-fried in a pan and cooked quickly. It’s definitely incomparable to this.”
The old woman still seemed to find it a bit pricey, shaking her head, but she said no more. The other guests, however, were not deterred. After buying their breakfasts, they eagerly lined up to purchase the duck products, planning to take them home for their wives and children to enjoy.
“Bring me some duck products! I want five of each! I have a big family, otherwise, there won’t be enough to share!” A man at the back, fearing he wouldn’t get any, shouted his order as soon as he reached the counter. Everyone else, having tasted the duck’s deliciousness, now yearned for more.
“Bring me five of each, and pack me a portion of this vegetarian dish!” The vegetarian dishes, too, were popular, and everyone who had tried them enjoyed their flavor. Those with more money splurged on extra meat, while others opted for more of the vegetarian dishes.
Director Hong also arrived, curious about the day’s duck sales. He had been immensely impressed by Xu Ying’s boldness after Zhang Caihua returned, having directly signed a long-term cooperation contract with another county. The risk was enormous; if they went back on their word, it wouldn’t only damage his reputation but also incur heavy liquidated damages. His heart had been in his throat for days. Today, with the duck products finally on sale, he had risen early, held his morning meeting, and hurried to the restaurant.
As he walked in, he saw a long, noisy queue beside the cashier. He approached, curious, and when he realized they were all buying duck products, a surge of excitement went through him. He looked at Xu Ying, his admiration growing. This girl had delivered yet another major surprise.
Among the duck product buyers were also leading cadres, and they all smiled when they saw Director Hong. “Old Hong, your restaurant truly has a discerning eye for finding Xiao Xu! Every time this girl cooks, the food is captivating. It’s so comforting. Have you tried this duck? It’s absolutely delicious!”
Seeing Director Hong, Xu Ying smiled, pointing to the several large iron boxes before her. “Director Hong, here are five-flavored, mildly spicy, medium spicy, and hot spicy options. Take a look. Which one do you want to try?”
After his last painful encounter with spicy food, Director Hong didn’t hesitate. “Which one is mildly spicy? Let me try that one.”
“Okay,” Xu Ying replied, handing him a plate of the mildly spiced duck. Director Hong, without delaying her work, excitedly carried the duck to a corner and began to savor it.
The popularity of the duck products was even more astonishing than Xu Ying had anticipated. She couldn’t handle the rush by herself. The two kitchen staff were already busy with other tasks, and the front office staff had their own duties. In the end, Director Hong himself was pulled in to help.
By two o’clock in the afternoon, dozens of kilograms of duck products were completely sold out. Some customers, left empty-handed, looked utterly dejected. “You don’t make enough duck products!” one complained. “We haven’t even had a chance to eat yet, and it’s all gone!”
Xu Ying offered an apologetic smile. “Thank you for your love for our duck products! From now on, we will have duck products every day. However, the ingredients for the duck meat are in short supply, so everyone can only purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. If you haven’t eaten, please come back early tomorrow!”
Disappointed, the crowd dispersed, with no choice but to return early the next day. Director Hong, sweating from the flurry of activity, finally found a moment to rest. He sat on a chair, his face beaming with admiration for Xu Ying. “I must say, you truly have a talent! A few days ago, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to sell all the duck products I bought, but I never expected there wouldn’t be enough to sell. So why don’t you talk to them and buy more goods?”
Xu Ying shook her head. “Things are rare and expensive. If there are too many, they won’t feel special. Let’s start slow and build our duck’s reputation. Then we won’t have to worry about customers in the future. And with so many people, one store can’t satisfy everyone.”
Director Hong’s eyes suddenly lit up with understanding. “Then you mean, you want every restaurant to sell this braised food?”
Xu Ying nodded, but her formula was her own, and she wouldn’t give it away easily. Director Hong understood the value of recipes, especially good ones, often passed down through generations. A wave of guilt washed over him. “Xiao Xu, is it right for other restaurants to sell it? This is your own recipe, one you painstakingly developed.”
Xu Ying smiled. “Director Hong, to be honest, this recipe is passed down from our ancestors and cannot be shared with others. But now you’ve seen how popular this duck product is, and you’ve tasted its deliciousness. It’s no exaggeration to call it a delicacy. Someone once bought salted duck and sold it overseas to earn foreign exchange for our country. I may not have that much ability, but I won’t lose anything by trying. Why don’t we negotiate a cooperation with the non-staple food factory? We can give them the duck recipe, but they must pay me the salary I deserve.”
Director Hong’s eyes, as he looked at Xu Ying, changed instantly. This girl had quite the ambition. But Xu Ying was right. Salted duck could earn foreign exchange for the country, and their duck food was no less impressive. They were just a state-owned restaurant selling food; they couldn’t compare to a large company like a non-staple food factory. If it could truly generate foreign exchange for the country, it would be a huge contribution.
Xu Ying was betting on Director Hong. Would he be greedy and keep the formula for himself, or would he be selfless enough to help her take it to the non-staple food factory? Fortunately, she won her gamble. People of this era were remarkably simple, holding their motherland close to their hearts. To see the country prosper rapidly, they allowed no selfish motives to cloud their judgment. They knew the nation needed them to work together, united as one. Director Hong looked at Xu Ying, a helpless smile on his face. “Okay, I will do as you say.”