"You drink first, and then help me move the vat out."

I've been drinking it for so long, one more sip won't hurt.

The water in the vat was almost used up, leaving only the bottom. Xiao Yunying placed the vat at an angle, turned the rim of the vat to the doorway, had Luo Chen hold it for support, and then lifted it with all her might, carrying it out of the kitchen.

The water tank was covered with moss. Xiao Yunying took a new loofah and carefully scrubbed the inside, then rinsed it clean and let it dry in the sun for a while before carrying it back.

The noise from moving bottled water into the well was too loud, so Xiao Yunying decided to buy a smaller tank specifically for storing drinking water in the future. For now, she would make do, since there was no environmental pollution problem here and the well water was fine after boiling.

Together with Luo Chen and Luo Yang, they filled the water tank and instructed them:

"From now on, you must drink boiled water, you know? Drinking too much raw water can really make you sick."

"knew."

Luo Chen couldn't stay idle. After fetching water, he carried a bamboo basket on his back and prepared to go out.

Where are you going?

"We don't have much firewood left at home, I'm going to chop some."

Xiao Yunying sighed. Farm life really is never quiet. Why did she feel like she had nothing to do just now?

"I'll go with you."

After coaxing Luo Xin to stay home and obediently follow Luo Li, Xiao Yunying and the two brothers prepared to go up the mountain together.

Before leaving the house, he took a bamboo tube inside and poured out a tube full of mouthwash.

Some foods are really strange, like garlic and onions. You don't notice them when you're eating them, but you feel disgusted by the taste in your mouth after you've finished.

I taught all four children how to use mouthwash, and the two older ones stopped asking about it.

They themselves knew that, upon asking, they had bought it from an overseas merchant they had met by chance in the city.

Only Luo Li, being the glutton, couldn't resist swallowing the fragrant and sweet-tasting water in one gulp, leaving Xiao Yunying both amused and exasperated.

Anyway, it's not poisonous, so I might as well drink it.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Aunt Yang carrying a washboard and walking towards my house with Yang Tianyun.

"Auntie, it's Brother Yang."

Aunt Yang handed the washboard to Xiao Yunying: "Yunying, I've come to return this washboard to you. Are you leaving?"

"We're running low on firewood at home, so I'd like to go up the mountain to cut some."

"Perfect timing, Tianyun is free this afternoon, let him go help you."

"No need, I can manage on my own."

"Yunying, actually your aunt came to discuss something with you."

"Auntie, please tell me what's wrong."

Aunt Yang pulled her son aside: "I'm not good at speaking, let my son talk to you."

Yang Tianyun was somewhat embarrassed: "It's about this washboard..."

The sound grew fainter and fainter; if Xiao Yunying hadn't been so close, she wouldn't have been able to hear it at all.

"Are you planning to make washboards and sell them?"

Both Yang Tianyun and his son were carpenters. Since Yang Tianyun said it was about washboards, then the only option was to make washboards and sell them.

"Yes, that's the idea. My mother said it's your property and asked me to ask you about it. Don't worry, we'll give you half of the profits from the sale, how about that?"

"Do it if you want, you don't need to share the profits with me."

She had considered making a profit from washboards, but being new to the area, she didn't know any reliable carpenters and couldn't do the business.

Making a washboard isn't technically difficult; a skilled carpenter can learn it after a couple of glances.

To make money from this, you have to produce a lot at once and earn a profit before others sell their goods.

To put it bluntly, it's a one-time transaction.

An unfamiliar carpenter may not be reliable, so rather than letting someone else profit from it, it's better to let the Yang family make the money.

Just because they came specifically to tell her, she was willing to let them earn this money.

Xiao Yunying intentionally gave them a few pointers: "Washboards have a simple structure, and a skilled carpenter can learn how to make them after just a couple of glances. If you want to make money with this, it's best to make a lot at once and seize the market before others can imitate it."

Since it's something that's frequently soaked in water, you need to find ways to prevent it from getting moldy and rotten. Don't neglect quality just because it's a one-time purchase.

When other companies also release similar products, yours will be more durable in comparison. Even if you stop selling washboards in the future, I believe many people will still order furniture from you because of its durability and high quality.

Oh, and there's the price. You understand the principle of scarcity driving up prices. As the first people to sell washboards, you can set the price slightly higher than your usual furniture. As long as the product is novel and useful, city dwellers won't mind spending a little more money.

Aunt Yang exclaimed in amazement, "Yun Ying, you're amazing! You know so much!"

"I was just casually reminding you; maybe Brother Yang already thought of it himself without me saying a word."

Yang Tianyun has a knack for business; he can immediately think of making and selling novel and useful items and seize business opportunities in a timely manner.

Yang Tianyun chuckled sheepishly: "Apart from the first point Yun Ying mentioned, I didn't think of the rest. Yun Ying is really smart."

"Since Yunying has agreed, I'll shamelessly thank you. Once the money is sold, I'll definitely give you half of the profits."

"Really, there's no need, Auntie. Don't refuse me. I'm in a hurry to go up the mountain to collect firewood. I can't talk to you any longer."

Aunt Yang gave her son a push: "You're a woman, taking care of two teenagers. How much firewood can you possibly gather? Tianyun, hurry back and get the carrying pole. Go up the mountain and carry two loads of firewood to Yunying."

Yang Tianyun sighed and strode home. Not long after, he took a carrying pole and a bundle of hemp rope and went up the mountain.