As the sun gradually rose higher, Cheng Wanwan’s ice jelly stand opened for business.

A table was set at the front for customers to sit and enjoy their food.

Another table held five bowls, each containing a small piece of ice jelly, topped with dark brown sugar syrup and two pieces of hawthorn fruit.

In the early days of her business, she had personally gone to the market to attract customers. Drawing in people was never a problem for her.

With a bright smile, she called out loudly:

“Fresh ice jelly for sale! Cool and refreshing ice jelly!”

“Free samples! Limited quantity, first come, first served!”

Zhao Dashan and Zhao Sanniu followed her lead, shouting along with her.

Thanks to their efforts, a passerby finally stopped by their stall—a woman in her thirties or forties.

She stared at the contents of the bowls with hesitation. “I’ve never seen this before… it looks a bit strange,” she muttered.

Cheng Wanwan maintained her professional smile. “Hello, sister! This is ice jelly, the perfect treat for hot weather. Just one bite, and you’ll feel instantly refreshed!”

The woman looked doubtful. “But you don’t have ice cubes… how can this be cooling?”

Cheng Wanwan beamed. “You can try it for free! If you don’t believe me, just take a bite. It won’t cost you anything, right?”

Zhao Dashan quickly picked up a sample and handed it to the woman, along with a spoon.

The porcelain bowl, adorned with delicate pink plum blossoms, contained translucent, pale-yellow ice jelly, drizzled with the sweet aroma of brown sugar syrup. It was worth a taste.

The woman hesitantly brought a spoonful to her lips.

The moment the jelly entered her mouth, a wave of coolness spread from her tongue to her throat and down into her stomach.

The morning heat and sweat from her walk to town seemed to vanish in an instant.

Licking the lingering syrup off her lips, she asked, “What did you say this was called again?”

“It’s called ice jelly—two copper coins for a big bowl,” Cheng Wanwan replied swiftly, picking up an empty bowl. “If you want one, I’ll serve you a fresh bowl, and since you’re my first customer, I’ll even give you two extra pieces!”

The woman hesitated.

Two copper coins could buy a large steamed bun, enough to fill her up for an entire meal.

Spending money on this didn’t seem practical.

But with the extra pieces, she was tempted.

It was so refreshing—if only she could take some home for her children.

She hesitated before asking, “Can I take the bowl with me and bring it back tomorrow?”

Cheng Wanwan forced a smile. “We only have ten bowls, so I’m afraid we can’t spare them.”

In ancient times, with limited resources and no disposable containers, takeout simply wasn’t an option.

And just like that, she lost her first customer.

Zhao Dashan sighed in disappointment. “She seemed to really like it… why didn’t she buy it?”

Zhao Sanniu scratched his head. “Maybe it’s too expensive? Mom, should we lower the price to one coin per bowl?”

Cheng Wanwan shook her head.

The problem wasn’t the price.

In this era, women prioritized their families above all else. If they found something delicious, they’d rather take it home to their husbands and children than enjoy it themselves.

An idea flashed through her mind, but she couldn’t quite grasp it yet.

She instructed, “Dashan, Sanniu, keep calling out for free samples. I need to think for a bit.”

The two boys, fearing that the unsold jelly would go to waste, shouted at the top of their lungs.

Soon, a few more women gathered around.

Many tried the samples, but only two customers actually made a purchase—a mother with her child and a sturdy middle-aged man.

After an entire morning, they had sold only two bowls, earning four copper coins—just enough to cover the cost of renting the tables.

As the morning market wound down, people slowly dispersed.

Zhao Dashan returned the rented table, while Zhao Sanniu crouched down to wash the dishes, occasionally sneaking glances at his mother, who stood deep in thought.

“Mom, it’s okay,” Zhao Sanniu clumsily tried to comfort her. “I can carry heavy loads at the dock. I can earn twenty copper coins a day and buy you some meat.”

Zhao Dashan chimed in, “I just heard the innkeeper say that Master Wang in town is hiring workers to build a granary. The pay is twenty-two coins a day, plus a meal. If Sanniu and I both work, we can make fifty coins a day. That way, you won’t have to work so hard.”

Suddenly, Cheng Wanwan’s eyes lit up.

She had finally realized the problem—she had targeted the wrong customers!

In modern times, desserts like this were marketed toward young women. But in ancient times, women had little social standing, and girls had even fewer privileges.

The real consumers should be laboring men and favored sons in wealthy households.

Especially in times of famine, when food prices were soaring, families would be even more cautious with their spending.

Cheng Wanwan smiled. “Dashan, Sanniu, pack up our things. We’re heading to Master Wang’s estate to try our luck!”

During her time at the market, she had overheard many discussions about how Master Wang’s granary had been robbed, prompting him to rebuild it.

Construction had started a few days ago, and they were still hiring workers.

There would definitely be plenty of strong men there.

With all their belongings in tow, the mother and her two sons set off for the Wang estate.

At the back of the estate, the walls had been torn down for reconstruction. Thirty or forty strong men labored under the scorching sun, stacking bricks.

A large water jar sat nearby, offering a drink to cool their thirst. But after hours under the blazing sun, the water was warm, doing little to relieve the heat.

The men, drenched in sweat, let the droplets fall to the ground, where they evaporated almost instantly.

Cheng Wanwan set up her stall twenty meters from the estate. With no tables available, they stacked bricks to make a makeshift counter, covering them with Zhao Sanniu’s outer robe to act as a tablecloth.

Then, she began calling out:

“Fresh ice jelly for sale! Cool and refreshing ice jelly!”

“Free samples! Limited quantity, first come, first served!”

The laborers, caught off guard by the sudden cries, turned to see a woman with two young boys selling something.

The words “free samples” immediately caught their attention. A few young men in their early twenties walked over curiously.

Cheng Wanwan smiled warmly. “The perfect treat for summer—ice jelly! We only have ten free samples. If you’re late, you’ll miss out!”

She had prepared ten bowls, each containing a small piece of glistening, jelly-like dessert. Just looking at it made people’s mouths water.

The young men took a bowl and gulped it down in one go. The flavor barely registered, but the instant cooling sensation spread through their entire bodies.

Seeing their reaction, Cheng Wanwan spoke at just the right moment. “A bowl costs two copper coins. Would you like to buy one?”

The man in front immediately reached into his waistband, pulled out a few coins, and tossed two over. “Hurry up and serve me a bowl!”

“Coming right up!”

Cheng Wanwan quickly took his money.

Zhao Dashan had already scooped up a fresh serving.

Taking the bowl, Cheng Wanwan asked with a smile, “Do you prefer it sweet or sour?”

“Sweet,” the man replied.

She added a generous spoonful of brown sugar syrup and handed him the bowl with a spoon.

The man eagerly drank more than half in one go. Exhaling a breath of relief, he sighed in satisfaction, “This really cools you down… Auntie, you better come back tomorrow!”

With the first sale made, the second, third, and fourth quickly followed…