Icy Delights Shop

 

In the past, there was an ice shop in Fuyang Town, but the quantity was small, and the prices were high.

 

In the town, those who could afford ice had ice cellars at home, and the amount in that shop was not enough for them.

 

For those who couldn’t afford it, even if they wanted to experience the coolness of summer ice, they were afraid that it would melt before they got home. Anyway, it didn’t work out, and the shop soon couldn’t survive and closed its doors.

 

“Brother Zhao, you’re clever. I do sell ice, but in this shop, we sell ice as food. Since you’re the first customer, it’s on the house!”

 

After saying this, he instructed Xiao An, “Xiao An, bring a stick of ice cream and a serving of chilled honey syrup ice shaving for Brother Zhao. Make sure the flavors are distinct.”

 

“Sure thing, Big Brother!” Xiao An responded energetically.

 

“No! Why are you saying that? It’s as if I’m deliberately taking advantage of you. This ice cream is quite expensive.”

 

Brother Zhao, from a well-off family in the town, felt it was inappropriate when he heard that Jing Yi wanted to treat him to ice cream. He thought that this ice-made food was precious!

 

“Hey, don’t be so polite. My ice treats are not expensive. The two items add up to a few dozen wen. It’s not much more than the cost of your hot pot meal. Don’t be so polite.”

 

Jing Yi explained as he spoke, “I obtained this ice using a different method, not from an ice cellar. It’s not only edible but also delicious. You can rest assured.”

 

Many wealthy families in town thought it inappropriate to use ice from the ice cellar for consumption.

 

“Brother Zhao, since you are the first customer, I’ll treat you to a special one. It’s a newly developed ice delicacy—Watermelon Ice Bomb!”

 

Jing Yi, with a slightly mysterious look, said, “This is a refreshing and cool dessert that I specially created. Try it, and I believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

 

He took out a small bowl of watermelon ice bombs from the refrigerator. The red and green colors were vibrant and tempting, emitting a refreshing fruity fragrance.

 

“Watermelon Ice Bomb? What kind of name is this?”

 

Brother Zhao couldn’t help but laugh at the strange name, but his eyes were fixed on the tempting ice bombs.

 

Jing Yi handed him a spoon and said, “The name might be unusual, but the taste is extraordinary. Give it a try, and you’ll understand.”

 

Brother Zhao hesitated for a moment, then took a spoonful of Watermelon Ice Bomb. The moment it entered his mouth, a burst of coolness spread, and the refreshing taste of watermelon filled his taste buds.

 

“Oh, this is incredible! It’s so refreshing, and the texture is unique. It’s different from any ice treat I’ve had before!”

 

Brother Zhao’s eyes lit up with surprise and delight as he tasted the Watermelon Ice Bomb.

 

Jing Yi smiled with satisfaction, “I’m glad you like it. This Watermelon Ice Bomb is made with a special technique to enhance the texture and flavor. It’s a signature item in my shop.”

 

As he enjoyed the Watermelon Ice Bomb, he couldn’t help but praise it, “This is amazing! I never thought ice could be turned into such a delicious treat. It’s not just about cooling down; it’s a delightful culinary experience!”

 

Jing Yi nodded, “Exactly! Ice can be transformed into a variety of delightful delicacies. I hope this shop can bring a new and enjoyable experience to everyone in town.”

 

Brother Zhao continued savoring the Watermelon Ice Bomb, appreciating the craftsmanship behind it. The combination of textures and flavors made it a unique and delightful dessert.

 

In the kitchen, Steward Tong’s wife  and Aunt Cui heard the conversation outside and worked diligently to prepare more Watermelon Ice Bombs, anticipating more customers.

 

The news of the new ice treat quickly spread through the town, and curious locals began to gather outside the shop, eager to try this innovative delicacy.

 

Jing Yi, pleased with the positive response, thought to himself, “The Ice Nectar Pavilion is ready to bring a cool and delicious revolution to Fuyang Town.”

 

At Jing Yi’s enthusiastic recommendation, Brother Zhao took a reserved bite.

 

The moment he bit into it, his lips and tongue experienced such enjoyment in the hot summer, eagerly chewing, wishing to let other parts of his body also savor this refreshing sensation.

 

Honestly, the first bite was more about the extreme feeling of eating ice in the hot summer, similar to the experience of Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit. He couldn’t even discern the specific flavor but was already in absolute bliss.

 

Then, as he took the second and third bites, the flavor emerged—soft, rich milkiness, and a sweet taste freely roaming in his mouth. Marvelous! His eyes squinted in pleasure.

 

Jing Yi didn’t disturb him; the more Brother Zhao enjoyed it, the more exaggerated his praises would be when he went out. This wave of publicity relied on Brother Zhao.

 

The milky ice cream was devoured by Brother Zhao in just a few bites. When he realized it, only a small piece remained. How regretful! If only he had savored it slowly and appreciated the flavor!

 

“Brother Zhao! Your honey shaved ice is here! Enjoy!”

 

At this moment, Xiao An, like a timely rain, placed another ice treat on the table—a beautiful porcelain plate containing a small ice mountain covered with peach jam and some dried fruit.

 

Unable to resist, Brother Zhao swallowed saliva. This looked even more tempting than the ice cream!

 

After another round of indulgence, when he inquired about the specific prices, he found out that the shaved ice was slightly more expensive at thirty wen per serving. He thought it was a bit pricey, but definitely worth it!

 

When he heard that the milky ice cream was only eight wen, he widened his eyes in surprise and exclaimed, “Mr. Jing, you really mean it! In this town, you’re the only one who can do this business!”

 

“Hahaha, of course! But I’m not doing it for you guys. I want the children in the town and the village to have a cool time on hot days!” Jing Yi explained with a laugh.

 

“Mr. Jing is truly benevolent. Let me express gratitude on behalf of my children at home, thanks to you!” Brother Zhao, after finding out, hurriedly went home. His house was not far from here, so he quickly brought his children to buy a treat. It wouldn’t delay their lunch.

 

Being quite talkative, he chatted with almost everyone he knew on the way back, spreading the word about the delectable treats at Jing’s Ice Nectar Pavillion. The acquaintances, after hearing about it, strolled over to taste the freshness. Even those less familiar came half-believing to see what it was all about.

 

In this way, with the word of mouth, even without any official advertising, the Ice Nectar Pavillion became popular in town.

 

The products in the refreshment shop were still both high-end and affordable, attracting various customers.

 

The difference between high-end and affordable products generally lay in the raw materials and the complexity of the preparation.

 

The most affordable product in the shop was the ice cream. Milky ice cream was eight wen, and the affordable fruit-flavored ice creams were usually six wen. There was also the cheapest one called Sweet Stick, as the name suggested, made with sugar water. Jing Yi sold it for only three wen.

 

Jing Yi didn’t play the tricks of unscrupulous merchants. The supply of Sweet Sticks was always the most abundant, ensuring that no parent, who came to the town rarely, would face the embarrassing situation of not being able to buy something affordable for their children.

 

Although the business was booming, lately, there were more and more complaints.

 

“Mr. Jing, it’s all your fault. The refreshing treats here are too delicious. In this scorching weather, I’m drawn to your place every day, and now I’m getting tanned.”

 

This was the elegant young master Li, who loved beauty. Lately, he came every afternoon and favored the most expensive “Peach Blossom” Milky Shaved Ice in the shop. The main ingredients were chopped peaches and peanut butter, and the shaved ice at the bottom was made from finely ground milky ice cream, costing eighty-eight wen per serving.

 

“Yeah! Mr. Jing, blame your delicious treats! Every day after work, I want to come here for ice before going home. My wife thinks I’m going somewhere else. Cough, cough!”

 

This sturdy man looked around at the many little radishes and swallowed back his words.

 

The Ice Nectar Pavilion was different from other eateries; most customers were parents bringing their little ones. With innocent faces, lively voices, and cheerful laughter, it created a pleasant atmosphere.

 

There were kids from She Niu’s family who, whether they knew you or not, would come and chat with you in childlike language. Sometimes it was amusing, making the adults who came for ice cream feel even more relaxed.

 

“Ah, don’t mention it. These three little ones at my home, we still have a business to run, but they insist on coming here for ice cream. If I don’t bring them, they’ll cry. My wife has gone to his parents’ home, so I can only bring them here.”

 

These words were from Blacksmith Lu. Burly and full of muscles, with a face that seldom gave a smile when talking to his customers, especially if displeased. However, he couldn’t help but dote on his petite and lively wife and three children.

 

“Father! Don’t talk about Uncle Jing! Uncle Jing said he’d add another spoon of jam for me in a while.” The blacksmith’s little boy said with a serious face to his father. What if they don’t add it and he has to pay for it? Father really doesn’t understand!

 

“Alright, Xiao Bao, go ahead and eat.” The blacksmith didn’t feel embarrassed at all. He happily coaxed his little boy to eat ice cream and reminded the two little boys whether they had enough or not. Since they came, they should enjoy themselves.

 

Jing Yi chuckled silently, bribing your kids in the future.

 

But the opinions of the masses still had to be considered. Opening more branches wasn’t very practical; the town’s market was limited. Moreover, this business depended on the season, and it would probably be almost over by September.

 

Delivery could be arranged, and ice cream could be better preserved. It could also be sold by deliverymen wandering the streets when they had nothing else to do.

 

After the sun set, the shop, bustling all day, closed. Everyone cleaned up the shop together, sealed the windows with wooden boards, carefully closed the two large doors, latched them securely, and hung a long plank in place.

 

“Let’s go! Have a short meeting in the backyard.” Jing Yi issued a command, and several young lads walked out one by one.

 

“Any thoughts on the suggestions people made today?” Jing Yi asked while standing on the steps.

 

Several people pondered as if Confucius had given them a pop quiz.

 

“Brother Yi, are you saying they feel it’s too hot and don’t want to come to the shop? I don’t think it’s a big deal. The hotter it is outside, the more precious our refreshments in the shop, and they will definitely sell well!” Dongshan said.

 

“Well, Xiao Shan has a point.” Jing Yi nodded in agreement. This kid had a clear and thorough understanding, with the potential for cunning business.

 

“But, have you considered that many of our customers are children? On such hot days, they might suffer from heatstroke on the way here,” said Xiao An.

 

“Ah, indeed.” Dongshan thought about the scene and felt uncomfortable, even though it hadn’t happened yet.

 

“Then, big brother, how about we do home delivery? I’ve seen several shops in town helping with delivery.” Xiao An continued.

 

“Good idea. How would they place orders? If the delivery boy comes to take the order, can’t he just take it back directly?” Jing Yi asked.

 

“That would be a waste. If we do the delivery ourselves, we have wooden boxes and quilts, and what we sell won’t melt.” Dongshan continued with this method.

 

“It’s not appropriate for the delivery boy to take it back himself. If something happens on the way or if there’s an issue with our refreshments, it will be hard to explain later.” This was Gao Kun, who understood the dark side of human nature.

 

At this point, Dongjiang, who hadn’t spoken for a long time, also said, “I think we can let them come once and directly order for five or ten days. That way, it will be convenient. Then, we can deliver according to the orders ourselves.”

 

Jing Yi led the young guys in a brainstorming session in the backyard, gradually guiding everyone’s thoughts. In the end, everyone contributed to formulating the delivery plan.

 

At the same time, this open and efficient way of discussion deeply attracted them, allowing each person to feel their indispensable role in this group.