Chapter 110 Something happened at Zhu Tao's home

Zhu Tao was making porridge in the kitchen, but she was still nervous. Today's porridge could be considered completed independently, but she was still unsure whether the diners would buy it or not.

She was afraid that she would not do well and damage the reputation of the Wen family, and she didn't know how to make up for it.

Wen Zhenyi saw her sitting in front of the stove absentmindedly, staring at the stove hole in a daze: "Don't worry, the guests all like the porridge you make."

Zhu Tao turned her head sharply and looked at her: "Really?"

"If you don't believe me, go to the hall and see for yourself."

Zhu Tao got up and went to the hall to see that the guests all had smiles on their faces and had finished all the porridge in their bowls.

A feeling of happiness and satisfaction arises spontaneously. It turns out that this is what it feels like to watch others eat up the food you make.

Wen Zhenyi leaned against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest: "Isn't this a great feeling?"

Zhu Tao nodded vigorously: "Is this the feeling of happiness?"

"Yes, remember this feeling and incorporate it into every meal you make from now on."

"Okay, I'll remember that."

"Madam, another bowl of mung bean porridge to go."

Ma Yinghe turned around and saw two people standing at the backyard door: "Why are you two still standing there? Why don't you go and make porridge for the guests?"

"Let's go." Zhu Tao hurried to the kitchen.

Wen Zhenyi also went to the kitchen to serve porridge to the guests. After Wen Chengwen came back, he also joined their team.

After the four of them finished their work, they sat in the backyard, washing dishes and chatting.

"When I came back, I saw that the shop opposite had already started construction. Several shops near us have also been rented out." Wen Chengwen said while washing dishes.

Ma Yinghe placed the cleaned bowls in a bamboo basket and took them to the kitchen to cook. "Master Cheng is always quick when doing things."

"Yi Yi, do you think we should rent a stall at the market where Mr. Cheng is now?" Wen Chengwen asked for her opinion.

"I think it's okay. This way, we don't have to worry about rain or sun. At least it's cool inside."

"I thought so too, but I don't know how much the stall will cost."

Wen Zhenyi had learned about the prices of stalls in the vegetable market before. The prices of fixed stalls at the entrance would be relatively higher than other stalls. In addition, the prices of meat and fish stalls would be higher than other stalls.

There are two types of stalls: fixed stalls and temporary stalls. Fixed stalls are like their butcher shops.

"You should ask Mr. Cheng how he plans to rent it."

"Okay, we'll ask when the time comes. If we can rent one long-term and the price is right, we'll rent one."

"Dad, do you also have to pay stall fees for your previous stall?"

"Pay it. If you don't pay, you won't be able to set up a stall."

“Who is responsible for collecting them?”

"The street is owned by the government, but that street also belongs to Boss Wu, so the government takes half of the revenue. We pay 500 wen a month for the stall."

"The price is not low, it costs six taels of silver a year. Ordinary people can't afford it."

"These are the prices for us meat vendors. Other temporary vendors charge five cents a day."

"Maybe the stall fee in the market won't be that cheap, but it shouldn't be too expensive either." Wen Zhenyi believed that Mr. Cheng was not a black-hearted businessman.

Chen Hanxing was busy these days and couldn't teach Wen Zhenyi to learn calligraphy.

Wen Zhenyi was not in a hurry. Instead, he taught Zhu Tao knife skills seriously. He also told her some things that needed attention and asked her to practice with vegetables first.

Zhu Tao was nervous at first, but then gradually relaxed. She had a basic foundation, and her knife skills were mastered a little faster than she had expected.

For breakfast these two days, Wen Zhen opened his mouth and Zhu Tao started to prepare it.

Her initial worries and subsequent confidence were all given to her by the diners.

Originally, Wen Chengwen and Ma Yinghe were going back to the village in the next two days, but it had been raining for the past two days, so they postponed their trip.

The sky happened to be clear today, and they were about to go back to see if the tables, chairs and benches were ready, when the door to the backyard was pushed open.

Old Man Wen pulled a bullock cart loaded with tables, chairs, and benches into the yard and said, "Chengwen, move all the tables, chairs, and benches in."

"Dad, why didn't mom come with you?"

Old Man Wen looked at the two figures in the kitchen and said, "I'm here to take Zhu Tao back home."

Ma Yinghe saw that his face was not right: "Dad, has something happened?"

Old Man Wen's face turned grim. "Something happened at Zhu Tao's home. Your mother asked me to ask Zhu Tao if she's willing to go back and take a look."

"What happened?"

"Her brother died, her mother ran away with the money from selling the farmland, and her grandparents died too. The neighbors only found out about this when they smelled the stench."

"What about her father?"

"When his father was found, his wound was already severely infected. Doctor Wan checked on him and said that funeral arrangements could be made. So, the village chief asked everyone to help with their funeral arrangements."

"The Zhu family is completely wiped out this time. The village chief also asked me to ask Zhu Tao if she wants to go back and see her father off for the last time."

Ma Yinghe frowned: "His mother doesn't care?"

"The village chief came with me and went to the mayor to report it to the authorities."

Wen Zhenyi looked at Zhu Tao who lowered her head. Old Man Wen did not lower his voice, so even if they were in the kitchen, they would be able to hear clearly: "Xiao Taozi, do you want to go back?"

Zhu Tao raised her head and looked at Wen Zhenyi, with a struggle in her eyes: "Yiyi, should I go back?"

"It's up to you. If you want to go back, no one will stop you. If you don't want to go back, no one will say anything bad about you. After all, you've already been sold."

Zhu Tao clenched the knife in his hand and smiled bitterly: "Since they are gone, I might as well go and see them off! After all, they gave me life."

Wen Zhenyi took the knife from her hand: "Go, take care of things and come back."

Ma Yinghe watched Zhu Tao come out and knew that she had made up her mind: "Little Taozi, don't feel wronged. You haven't let them down."

"Aunt Wen, I know."

Wen Zhenyi pulled Ma Yinghe's sleeve and said, "Mom, come here."

Ma Yinghe followed her to the side and asked quietly, "Yiyi, what's wrong?"

"Do we have any money left?"

"There are still about five or six taels left. What's wrong?"

"Give Xiao Taozi three taels of silver, and we'll buy her some things to take back. All the money in her family has been taken away by her mother, so we can't ask everyone to chip in the money this time."

"You're right. Xiao Taozi is our family now. We can't let the Zhu family look down on her." Ma Yinghe said as she went back to her room to get the silver, then turned around and took Wen Chengwen out to buy things.

Zhu Tao went back to her room to pack some clothes. These clothes were sewn for her by Old Mrs. Wen after she arrived at the Wen family. Although they were made of ordinary cotton cloth, they did not have any patches on them.