Chapter 33 Taking a Different Approach

On the way home, Fan Shi, Aunt Wang, and Xiao Bao all looked rather dejected. Fan Xiaoxiao looked at the three of them with a wry smile and gently tugged at Xiao Bao's worried face, saying, "What's wrong! Your little face is all scrunched up like a bun!"

"Hey! Auntie! Are we really not allowed to sell braised pork offal anymore?"

"Yes, we're not selling it."

Upon receiving this answer, Xiao Bao's shoulders slumped even more, and he sighed heavily, patting Fan Xiaoxiao on the shoulder and saying:

"Oh! Auntie, don't be sad."

Fan Xiaoxiao was puzzled by his words, thinking that she wasn't sad at all. Before she could speak, Madam Fan frowned and comforted her, "Yes, sister. I saw a lot of places at the dock hiring female workers today. I'll go and take a look tomorrow. We're a family, we can always find a way to make a living. As for the braised pork business... if it's gone, it's gone."

"Yes, girl, don't force a smile to comfort us. You've been working hard for the family for several days. It's good to take a break now."

Fan Xiaoxiao was both amused and exasperated by their antics. She pulled Wang Da Niang's hand off her shoulder, patted it, and laughed, "Oh dear, I'm really not sad! We can still go visit the Ji family, can't we? We can't do the braised pork offal business anymore anyway, so maybe I can help the Ji family figure out a way to reopen their restaurant. Besides, I only said we wouldn't do the braised pork offal business, not that we wouldn't do any other business!"

Hearing this, the three of them perked up. Madam Fan asked somewhat cautiously, "Do you really have a way to help the Ji family revive their restaurant?"

"Um!"

Aunt Wang asked tentatively, "Are you planning to do other business?"

"Um!"

Xiao Bao stared at Fan Xiaoxiao with his big, bright eyes, his little face full of admiration and anticipation as he asked, "Is...is it delicious?"

"Um!!"

In a flash, the three of them smiled again and walked home chatting and laughing.

"Hey sis, what kind of business are you planning to start?"

Fan Xiaoxiao's lips curled up, her smile somewhat like a cat's. Her eyes shone as she looked at the three of them. Instead of answering the question immediately, she asked in suspense, "Do you know what kind of meat is the cheapest in this town?"

Madam Fan and Aunt Wang exchanged a glance. They hadn't gone to the market to buy any other food in the past few days, so they knew nothing about the prices in Guqu Town.

Just then, a small, fair hand was raised, and Xiao Bao said in a childish voice, "Xiao Bao knows!"

The three of them turned their gaze to Xiao Bao in the middle. Fan Xiaoxiao squatted down and looked at Xiao Bao, saying, "Oh? Tell me, what's the cheapest meat sold in Guqu Town?"

"It's fish and shrimp!"

Fan Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow upon hearing this answer, then asked, "Oh? Why fish and shrimp?"

Xiao Bao twisted the corner of his clothes a little shyly, his little face flushed, and said, "When Auntie was selling braised pork, there was an uncle selling fish next to her. When he was chatting with someone, Xiao Bao heard him and said, 'Fish is not easy to sell. Everyone has boats, and there are a lot of fish, so if there are a lot of fish, they are not worth much.'"

Fan Xiaoxiao was surprised that Xiaobao, who was so young, could observe so carefully. She looked at him with some astonishment.

Seeing that Fan Xiaoxiao didn't speak, Xiaobao pouted, thinking he had said something wrong. He looked at Fan Xiaoxiao with his big, watery eyes and asked, "Xiaobao, is what Xiaobao said wrong?"

Noticing that Xiao Bao looked a little listless, Fan Xiaoxiao quickly picked him up, kissed him on the cheek, and praised him loudly:

"Yes! Xiao Bao is absolutely right! Xiao Bao is so great!"

Xiao Bao, feeling a little shy in Fan Xiaoxiao's hug, squirmed slightly, his face flushed red with excitement. Fan Xiaoxiao playfully pinched his nose and chuckled, "You! You're such a clever little devil!"

"Hehe, so, so Auntie is going to use fish figurines to make delicious food to sell?"

Fan Xiaoxiao nodded, smiled, and weighed him in her hand, saying, "That's right! The next thing Auntie is going to make is a clay pot of fish balls and vermicelli!"

(End of this chapter)