Married but Untouched! Her Soldier Husband Came Home Dumbfounded! - Chapter 38

After returning home, Ye Fangfei told Shen Jianhua everything.

“Dad, it’s really not a big deal. Shen Zhanxun might not even know that comrade surnamed Xu, but I think we should still inform Shen Zhanxun, so he doesn’t feel like we took advantage of the situation without saying a word.”

Shen Jianhua nodded. “You’re right. We’ve been busy tidying up the house recently and haven’t written to him in a long time. When Zhanqiang is on break, let him write a letter.”

Sun Xiujü glared at her husband. How could he be so clueless? Their daughter-in-law was right there, yet he wouldn’t encourage the kids to strengthen family bonds and insisted on waiting for the youngest son to write the letter himself.

She smiled and held Ye Fangfei’s hand. “Fangfei, Zhanqiang isn’t very articulate. Why don’t you write it? You’re meticulous, and you can explain everything clearly.”

Ye Fangfei: “…Well, can’t really refuse that.”

So, she smiled and agreed. “Alright, Mom. Once things settle down in the next couple of days, I’ll write it.”

And just like that, she completely forgot about it—until Shen Zhanxun returned, no letters had come from home.

The day before opening, Ye Fangfei’s shop was already bustling with activity.

Zhou Hongyu, knowing her daughter’s shop would open tomorrow, arrived early to help.

Ye Laifu and Shen Jianhua were busy washing the intestines, while Zhou Hongyu and Sun Xiujü worked on cleaning the pig heads and trotters.

Everyone was so busy, yet their faces were lit with smiles, full of excitement.

“Little sister, the cost for pig trotters is twenty cents each, but you’re selling them at sixty cents. Isn’t that a bit high?”

Ye Xihu frowned. He thought her pricing was steep. As for intestines, bought at eighteen cents per pound, she intended to sell at one yuan twenty per pound—he worried such prices would scare customers away.

“Brother, my pricing is reasonable, not expensive at all,” Ye Fangfei explained.

“Little brother,” she added, “while the ingredients are cheap, preparing them takes work. Our labor costs money too.”

She counted the costs on her fingers: ingredients, spices, coal, rent… after tallying, the profit margin was about half. Running a business, she couldn’t just work for free.

Ye Xihu knew the actual profit would be higher, but seeing his sister so composed, he still worried.

“Little sister, is the profit margin really too high?” he asked cautiously.

Ye Fangfei smiled. “Brother, don’t forget, we’re not selling tickets. My pricing follows the standards of state-run restaurants, not more expensive than theirs. And those places only have pig head meat—the taste doesn’t come close to mine.”

Only then did Ye Xihu feel a bit relieved. Though he had visited the city often, he had never gone to a state-run restaurant—not for lack of money, but because he didn’t want to spend it.

“You’ve been to state-run restaurants before?” he asked.

Ye Fangfei nodded. “Yes. If you’re running a business, you must understand the market. I’ve tried several in Dongping City. My braised meat tastes far better, and it’s cleaner.”

Ye Xihu exhaled and finally smiled. “Alright then. I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow.”

“Brother, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just let it flow naturally. If it doesn’t work out, we can always sell lamb soup at the train station or run a street stall. It won’t be worse than before.”

“Bah! Don’t say such gloomy things before opening! Shut your mouth!” Zhou Hongyu glared.

Sun Xiujü quickly told Ye Fangfei, “Fangfei, spit on the floor a few times.”

Ye Fangfei internally groaned—she was just stating facts, but everyone was being superstitious. She obediently spat a few times, though she wasn’t even sure what she was supposed to be spitting at.

She wrote the prices for pastries and braised meat on a large red paper and had Ye Xihu post it prominently at the shop.

The night before opening, everyone else stayed up. At 2 a.m., Shen Cuijü quietly woke and started beating eggs into the mixing buckets as Ye Fangfei had taught her.

Zhou Hongyu and Sun Xiujü worked on the other buckets, while Ye Dahu and his brothers began mixing.

The Ye brothers were off selling ice cream today. With the shop opening and promotion happening, they were all helping for a few days.

Once the batter was ready, Shen Jianhua and Ye Laifu fired up the ovens.

Shen Cuijü then went to wake Ye Fangfei. “Sister-in-law, it’s already three o’clock.”

Ye Fangfei, still sleepy-eyed, sat up and quickly dressed. She opened the door, seeing everyone already awake and the prep work ready. Surprised, she asked, “You didn’t sleep?”

“Just a little,” Zhou Hongyu said, urging her. “Fangfei, start baking now, there won’t be enough time later.”

“Alright, I’ll wash up quickly and come over.”

While brushing her teeth, Ye Fangfei instructed Shen Cuijü: “Little sister, brush the baking trays with oil, then pour the batter as I taught you.”

Shen Cuijü’s hands trembled. Though fine two days ago, today she was nervous—afraid of messing up for her sister-in-law.

Ye Fangfei noticed and encouraged her, “It’s okay. Remember, our promotion is two free egg cakes per pound. Even if the shape isn’t perfect, we can use them for the promotion.”

Shen Cuijü took a deep breath and calmed down, focused while making the second batch.

Ye Fangfei stood by the oven, teaching the brothers how to check temperature and timing.

Zhou Hongyu and Sun Xiujü worked at the stoves as Ye Fangfei added spices to the braised meat.

“Mom, make sure to put enough seasoning. Don’t skimp. Otherwise, the color and flavor won’t be right,” Ye Fangfei instructed.

“Got it, enough seasoning,” Sun Xiujü nodded repeatedly. After a while, she hesitantly asked, “Fangfei, is there a special way to handle the heat?”

“Bring it to a boil over high heat, then medium for twenty minutes, and finally low heat,” Ye Fangfei reassured. “Don’t worry. Just be bold. I’ll be here to correct anything in time.”

Soon, the two pots of meat emitted a fragrant aroma.

The ovens churned out tray after tray of egg cakes, piling them onto wooden trays, filling the air with a sweet smell that drifted far.

At six in the morning, Ye Xihu opened the three shops. With the lighting of firecrackers, Pastry House and Imperial Braised Meats officially opened.

Tray after tray of egg cakes were displayed on the custom counters. The neighboring shop showcased various braised meats. Just the colors were enough to make mouths water, not to mention the rich aroma that stopped passersby in their tracks.

The moment the firecracker stopped, a crowd had already gathered—neighbors and early morning shoppers alike.

“How much for the egg cakes?”

“Eight cents per jin, no tickets needed,” Ye Fangfei smiled. “For the first three days, buy one jin and get two free.”

The customer, though the price was slightly higher than the supply store, happily agreed, “I’ll take a jin to try.”

“Certainly, sir. Please wait a moment,” Ye Fangfei said.

Ye Erhu weighed and wrapped the egg cakes efficiently, while Ye Fangfei tied them with string.

The customer complimented them before leaving: “Your service is much better than the supply store.”

“Thank you! Please come again,” Ye Fangfei replied warmly.

The shop had officially begun, and the city’s early morning had already been sweetened by the scent of pastries and braised meats.