Chapter 32 Tang's Takeout
"Wow! Wow!"
"Brother Tang! I'm free! I have no classes or work tomorrow morning!"
"Me! Me! Me! I can go tomorrow too!"
"Count me in, Brother Tang!"
Wang Sheng raised his arm high: "Yesterday when I went to deliver food to my third brother, I saw a long queue outside the dessert shop in the west of the city. With the weather getting hotter and hotter, our iced tea is sure to sell well!"
"Brother Tang, let me go."
Zhao Hu leaned closer and patted his chest: "I'm strong, I can carry fifty cups at a time."
Before long, more than a dozen work-study students eagerly raised their hands. Even Li Shuan, the chubby boy who usually hid in the corner, whispered, "Brother Tang, I'm not good with words, but I definitely won't slack off."
"OK!"
"Then we'll split into five groups, with three people in each group."
Tang Chuan looked at the eager figures filling the room and nodded with a smile: "Ali, take a group to the east of the city, Zhao Hu, take a group to the city gate, Li Shuan, take a group to the north of the city... Wang Sheng, I have other arrangements for you later."
With everything arranged, Tang Chuan's thousand-year-old Spirit ring glowed faintly, radiating a vibrant purple light.
"A thousand threads reappear, a hundred flavors emerge!"
In an instant, the Blue Silver Grass surged and intertwined.
A dozen or so sturdy and durable rattan baskets were then made, each containing sixty cups of iced tea, exactly twenty of each kind.
The bamboo cup was exquisitely crafted.
The wall was not only engraved with a Blue Silver Grass pattern, but also with the four neat characters "Tang's Iced Tea," which could be considered a trademark.
"Each group should take one basket to test the water first, and come back for more if it's not enough."
"Remember."
"Just sell it for one copper soul coin per cup, neither too expensive nor too cheap."
Tang Chuan carefully instructed, "If anyone hesitates, pour a little into this small bamboo cup and let them taste it."
"Be polite to people, and greet them with a smile regardless of whether they buy anything or not."
"If anyone asks when you'll come next time, just say you're here every day."
"Most importantly, pay attention to what flavors the guests like, or what else they would like to drink, and tell me when you come back."
"Understood, Brother Tang!"
The boys spoke in unison, their voices filled with enthusiasm.
In small groups, they nervously and excitedly lifted their bamboo baskets and poured out of the Seventh Dormitory, heading towards different bustling streets in Notting.
After instructing the work-study students, Tang Chuan turned his gaze to Wang Sheng, who was waiting to the side.
"Wang Sheng."
Tang Chuan put his arm around Wang Sheng's shoulder and walked him aside, his tone becoming more serious: "You know the situation of the dessert shops in the west of the city, but we can't all rush to set up stalls. I have something more important to give you."
"Brother Tang, please speak!"
"I promise I won't let you down!"
Upon hearing the words "more important," Wang Sheng instinctively straightened his back and immediately gave his guarantee.
"Come with me to the cafeteria this afternoon. I've applied for a small stall there."
Tang Chuan lowered his voice: "You are a reliable person and you are meticulous. From now on, you will be in charge of keeping an eye on the shop during the day."
"Responsible for receiving orders and counting quantities."
"Then assign them to the brothers who have free time to deliver the goods."
"Also, when you deliver meals to the mistress every day, bring an extra thirty cups of iced tea. The blacksmith shop is too hot; let them cool off too."
"Tell the mistress..."
"Fine, have Xiao San finish his work at the blacksmith shop tonight and come to the academy to see me. Tell him I have something I want to discuss with him."
Tang Chuan originally wanted Wang Sheng to pass on a message, but he realized that it was difficult to explain in a sentence or two, as it involved a lot of things, and it would be better to talk about it face to face.
"Okay!"
"Don't worry, Brother Tang!"
"Leave the shop and Third Brother's affairs to me!"
Wang Sheng nodded vigorously, feeling an unprecedented sense of trust and responsibility, his chest warm.
That afternoon, Tang Chuan led Wang Sheng, Xiao Wu, and two work-study students to the small stall in the corner of the cafeteria that had just been approved.
The place was small and a bit old.
But the location was indeed good, right next to the food serving window, with people coming and going.
"Wow, this place is our territory from now on?"
Xiao Wu was in the highest spirits. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing her fair arms, grabbed a rag, and began to scrub the tables and chairs with great enthusiasm.
Wang Sheng and the other two work-study students also quickly got to work sweeping and watering the floor, keeping themselves very busy.
Tang Chuan stood in the center of the shop, his gaze sweeping over the small space as he considered how to arrange it.
The thousand-year-old Spirit ring beneath his feet glowed faintly.
First, in the most prominent position directly above the shop entrance, the interwoven and stretched Blue Silver Grass flattens out, eventually forming a smooth wooden plaque with four powerful characters engraved on it:
Tang's Takeout
The edges of the plaque were cleverly decorated with the intertwined patterns of Blue Silver Grass, giving it a simple yet elegant look.
"Tang's Takeout...?"
Wang Sheng looked up, somewhat puzzled.
Xiao Wu stopped wiping and blinked her big eyes: "What's takeout?"
Tang Chuan did not explain immediately, but continued to manipulate his soul power.
Below the sign for "Tang's Takeout," the Blue Silver Grass split again, weaving three smaller wooden signs that read: "Classroom Delivery," "Dormitory Delivery," and "Off-Campus Teacher Accommodation Delivery."
Each wooden sign had a deep bamboo basket nailed to its base, specifically for placing order slips.
Finally, Tang Chuan thoughtfully wove a divided counter out of Blue Silver Grass and placed it inside the shop entrance to temporarily store the prepared drinks and food for easy access by delivery personnel.
After doing all this, Tang Chuan withdrew his soul power.
Pointing to the three order baskets, he instructed Wang Sheng:
"Wang Sheng, keep an eye on this spot."
"This signboard for Tang's Takeout is our business card."
"From now on, if the faculty and students of the academy want to order our products, they can write a note and put it in the corresponding basket."
"Specify what you need, how much you need, where to send it, and when you need it."
"You collect orders three times a day at a set time. After collecting them, sort them by location and type, calculate the total number, and then tell me."
"I'll prepare the supplies for you and distribute them to the brothers who have free time, so they can deliver them on time."
Wang Sheng listened intently, diligently noting down every detail. Feeling a great sense of responsibility, he nodded emphatically, his eyes filled with determination.
"Brother Tang, don't worry!"
"I guarantee that every order will be correct and every iced tea will be delivered on time!"
"Hmm... not just iced tea."
Tang Chuan handed Wang Sheng a thick stack of straw paper leaflets. The leaflets, written in neat handwriting and with simple illustrations, listed all the products currently available:
Tang's Iced Tea
[Refreshing and thirst-quenching, one copper soul coin per cup]
Star Dew Passion Fruit Tea: Sweet fruity aroma, mellow aftertaste.
Qingxin Xueying Tea: Icy and refreshing, calming and soothing.
Dewy Cherry Blossom Iced Tea: Double the refreshing coolness, with the delicate fragrance of dew.
Tang's Barbecue
[Replenish stamina, 5 copper soul coins per unit]
Roasted Green Wood Deer Ribs: A woody aroma that nourishes the Spirit.
Spicy Flaming Pork Knuckle Slices: Mildly spicy and appetizing, replenishing qi and blood.
Datura Snake Kebabs: A wonderfully fragrant and invigorating treat that strengthens muscles and bones.
Charcoal-Grilled King Kong Beef Tenderloin Strips: Chewy and flavorful, they replenish your energy.
Tang's Fruit Cut
[Fresh and delicious, three copper soul coins per box]
Snow Cherry Platter: Refreshing and delicious.
Honey-Glazed Cloudberry Box: Sweet and juicy.
Passion Fruit and Bellflower Salad: Sweet and sour, appetizing.
[end of the chapter]