15 015

◎The Fifteenth Day of the King of Scrolls◎

Shen Xinglian was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

She then said, "Wanzhou, we must thank them properly. This time, we should mainly thank Wanzhou."

"Why are you being so polite with me?"

Jiang Wanzhou smiled and nodded: "I'll have my older brother go find them later, how about the day after tomorrow? It's going to rain and not be hot then."

Three days later, Jiang Wanzhou, having just finished making steamed buns, didn't even have time to rest before starting to prepare a sumptuous lunch.

Shen Xinglian was also busy. She finished feeding the baby early and put the baby on the chicken coop.

She searched the floor for vegetables, wanting to help Jiang Wanzhou prepare them.

"Wanzhou, what are you planning to do? Let me help you."

"I don't see any vegetables," Shen Xinglian said softly.

Jiang Wanzhou turned her head and refused with a smile: "Big brother went to buy it. How can the child be left on the chicken coop? You should accompany him to his room to rest properly."

"You still don't believe in my abilities? I was the number one chef back in the day."

"Then Xiaobao and I will mainly focus on keeping each other company."

Shen Xinglian couldn't persuade Jiang Wanzhou otherwise, so she picked up the child and watched her skillfully chop and stir-fry vegetables.

"Wanzhou, do you know what Xiaobao's name is?"

"You discussed a name with my brother, huh? What's it going to be called?"

“Shen Mingyuan. My next generation name is exactly the Ming generation, Yuan, the original Yuan.”

“I’ll take your surname. I didn’t realize my brother was so open-minded and progressive.”

“Me too. He said it was a promise made to the original owner's father, who only had one daughter, Shen Xinglian.”

"That should be, 'clinging firmly to the green hills and never letting go, its roots firmly planted in the broken rocks.'"

"I have nothing to say to you liberal arts students."

"Dear science student, could you please get a fan to keep warm?"

"..."

As they talked, the kitchen filled with the aroma of food.

Jiang Renzhou went to call the brigade leader, Zhou Qingyu, and Shen Jiahao to come over for dinner.

Shen Jiahao responded and said they would be there shortly.

Jiang Renzhou then went to the next shop, picked up the group's bicycles, and retrieved the meat and vegetables.

Not long after, Jiang Weiguo, Zhou Qingyu, and Shen Jiahao arrived at the house one after another.

As soon as they entered, they smelled the enticing aroma of food and began to praise it.

"Wow, Wan girl, your cooking is amazing! I can't wait to eat it!" Jiang Weiguo said with a smile.

Shen Jiahao rubbed his belly: "Yeah, this fragrance is just too tempting."

Zhou Qingyu politely replied, "This is some brown sugar that Shen Zhiqing and I brought."

Jiang Wanzhou poked her head out of the kitchen and said with a smile, "Please don't be shy, everyone. Come in and sit down. This meal is just to thank you for your help, so please don't accept any gifts."

Everyone sat around the dining table, their mouths watering at the sight of the sumptuous meal.

Jiang Wanzhou served the last dish and said with a smile, "Alright, everyone, let's dig in and don't be shy."

They ate while chatting about what had happened.

"We were able to uncover the truth so quickly this time, all thanks to Zhou Zhiqing..."

Before Shen Jiahao could speak, Zhou Qingyu bumped him with her knee.

He stopped and asked, "What's wrong?"

As a result, Zhou Qingyu ate his meal calmly, as if what he had just imagined was just his imagination.

But after thinking about it carefully, he really couldn't think of anything he might have said wrong.

I didn't expect it, but I didn't say anything.

In that brief moment of silence, Jiang Wanzhou, Shen Xinglian, and Jiang Renzhou looked at each other.

Everyone knows who helped smooth things over with that easy-going leader.

Shen Xinglian said gratefully, "I really don't know how to repay everyone. Wanzhou even helped make this meal."

Shen Jiahao waved his hand and said, "Teacher Shen, don't say that. This is what we should do. We are all happy for you to see the truth come out."

Zhou Qingyu nodded as well.

Shen Xing stood up and bowed slightly: "Thank you everyone. I will always remember this kindness."

Shen Jiahao quickly got up and helped Shen Xinglian, saying, "Sister-in-law, it's only right to help each other."

Jiang Renzhou also put some food on Shen Xinglian's plate: "I'll hold the baby, you eat."

Jiang Wanzhou glanced at it secretly, then happily continued eating.

The dinner table was silent.

Even though Zhou Qingyu and Shen Jiahao had plenty of food, they didn't dare to eat too well while living in the educated youth settlement.

I've been working in the countryside for almost half a year, and it's rare for me to have a decent meal.

After finishing his meal, Jiang Weiguo rushed to the brigade for a meeting.

Zhou Qingyu and Shen Jiahao both stood up to say goodbye.

"Don't judge a book by its cover. This village girl's cooking is even better than that of a state-run restaurant," Shen Jiahao said with a smile.

Zhou Qingyu remained silent.

Shen Jiahao continued, "If there's another chance to eat like this in the future..."

Zhou Qingyu nodded: "The Jiang family is choosing a site to build a house, so they won't be able to go back home for the next few years."

“Then we’ll live with the Jiang family!” Shen Jiahao’s eyes lit up.

Zhou Qingyu looked at him in silence.

Shen Jiahao scratched the back of his head: "Didn't you say that when we went to the countryside before?"

He watched Zhou Qingyu's retreating figure: "You wouldn't be thinking of covering it up..."

Zhou Qingyu stopped and looked back at him.

Shen Jiahao chased after him: "But we can go back once we complete the mission. This mission only lasts a few years, so building a house isn't worth it."

"Huh? When did Brother Yu become so extravagant?"

"Are you staying here or not?"

"Of course I'll stay! But could I stay near the Jiang family's house? I'd like to have meals with them."

Shen Xinglian and Jiang Wanzhou watched their figures gradually disappear into the distance.

The sun is very strong around 1 or 2 pm.

After saying goodbye, Jiang Wanzhou went back to catch up on her sleep.

After handing Shen Mingyuan over to Jiang Renzhou, Shen Xinglian started doing the accounting herself.

Jiang Wanzhou's purchase price and selling price of steamed buns over the past few days, as well as the number of buns sold.

There's still so much food left. What else is left at home?

Shen Xinglian sat at the table, sunlight streaming through the window onto the account book. She held a pen and carefully calculated every income and expenditure.

Jiang Renzhou held Shen Mingyuan in his arms and gently coaxed him from the side. The little guy occasionally made "ee-ee-ya-ya" sounds.

After a while, Shen Xinglian put down her pen and rubbed her sore eyes.

She looked at Jiang Renzhou and said, "Honey, my sister's steamed bun business has been pretty good these past few days. She earns about seven yuan a day, but there are some leftovers that she gives away, so she loses about one yuan every three days."

Jiang Renzhou looked up: "My younger sister has a lot of drive; she's made a successful pig farming business. We should support her more and help her oversee things. Do you have any suggestions?"

Shen Xinglian nodded: "Yes, Wanzhou is smart and hardworking. By the way, after she finishes catching up on her sleep, let's talk to her and see if we can expand the business, such as adding some variety."

As they were talking, Jiang Wanzhou yawned and came out of the house.

She rubbed her eyes, saw Shen Xinglian and Jiang Renzhou, and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, brother, what are you talking about?"

Shen Xinglian waved her hand: "Wanzhou, come and sit down. We were just talking about your steamed bun sales these past few days. Your business is doing well, but we can help you make it even better."

Jiang Wanzhou's eyes lit up, and she perked up: "Sister-in-law, tell me quickly, what good ideas do you have?"

Shen Xinglian thought for a moment and said, "I think we can improve the flavor of the steamed buns. In addition to the original white flour steamed buns, we can try making some cornmeal steamed buns and sweet potato flour steamed buns. Nowadays, everyone likes to eat some whole grains, so there should be a market for them. Moreover, we can also make some flower rolls, add some scallions and oil, and they will definitely taste better."

Jiang Wanzhou clapped her hands excitedly: "How come I didn't think of that! So when do we start? I'd like to go to the movie theater to buy some roasted sweet potatoes."

"Roasting sweet potatoes requires an oven, but if it's too big, it won't be easy to move around in it."

Shen Xinglian smiled and said, "Don't rush, let's prepare the steamed buns first. Renzhou, go to the supply and marketing cooperative later and see if they have cornmeal and sweet potatoes for sale. Wanzhou, you make the first batch."

"I'll be back at work the day after tomorrow, so I can help you sell a batch tomorrow. We'll add whichever sells the most."

Jiang Renzhou nodded: "Okay, I'll go right away. Big brother, you should also go and prepare the rest."

At three o'clock in the morning, Jiang Wanzhou finally finished.

The aroma of steamed buns filled the air.

"Xingxing, what do you think people like to eat these days?" Jiang Wanzhou asked as she placed the food in a cloth-lined basket.

Shen Xinglian smiled and said, "I don't know."

Jiang Wanzhou gave a thumbs up: "No wonder you've been a CEO. You still look so calm even when you're not sure about something."

"You dare to laugh at me?"

"How could I dare!" But his expression didn't say that.

The two were chatting happily when Jiang Renzhou returned.

He was carrying cornmeal and sweet potato flour in his hand, and said with a smile, "The supply and marketing cooperative has a good supply of cornmeal and sweet potato flour. I bought a lot. We can start making it now."

Shen Xinglian and Jiang Wanzhou immediately sprang into action.

Jiang Wanzhou skillfully mixed flour, cornmeal, or sweet potato flour together, added an appropriate amount of water and yeast, and then began kneading the dough.

Shen Xinglian helped from the side.

After a while, the dough had fermented.

Shen Xinglian and Jiang Wanzhou began making steamed buns and twisted rolls.

Jiang Wanzhou cut the fermented dough into small pieces, making small steamed buns.

Before long, pots of steaming hot cornbread and twisted rolls were ready.

Shen Xinglian couldn't wait to pick up a steamed bun, take a bite, and exclaimed, "This steamed bun is so delicious! The aroma of scallions and the flavor of oil blend together perfectly. It's filling and delicious!"

Jiang Wanzhou smiled and said, "That's enough! I believe you. You don't need to eat so much and make yourself uncomfortable."

"Excuse me, beautiful and kind Miss Shen, could you please help me pack these steamed buns and twisted rolls?"

"sure."

The two packed the steamed buns and twisted rolls into a basket and then went to the market together.

The market was bustling with people.

Jiang Wanzhou found Lin Yu, who then ran away after obtaining the item.

She arranged the basket as Lin Yu had instructed, and lifted a small corner of it.

Before long, a group of people gathered around.

Before long, several other people who had fished it out came back and praised it highly.

"These steamed buns taste really good, even better than those from state-run restaurants."

"These steamed buns smell so good, give me a few."

Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Xinglian were extremely busy, constantly collecting money and packing steamed buns and twisted rolls.

Seeing their business getting better and better, both of them had happy smiles on their faces.

By evening, all the steamed buns and twisted rolls were sold out.

Shen Xinglian nudged Jiang Wanzhou: "Did you recognize who was selling eggs across the street just now?"