Chapter 28

Gu Chen and Gu Xinxin worked hard for half the afternoon. When all the dough was used up and they put the finished honey twisted dough into a basket, Gu Chen called Gu Daniu and prepared to go to town. She didn't let Gu Xinxin follow them, saying, "Clean up at home. We'll need these things tomorrow."

Gu Xinxin didn't want to follow. It was so hot, and she had to walk all the way there and back again. She was crazy to follow. Anyway, she knew how many fried dough twists there were. Even if she gave away a few more, it would be fine as long as they were roughly the same.

When running a business, especially one that deals in food, you need to account for all kinds of losses from the outset—food given away, samples, dropped, food not paid for, food stolen. There's a limit to these things. It's not like you can sell for as much as you make.

Gu Xinxin tidied up the kitchen at home, made dinner for herself, and then went to squat in a horse stance with a bucket in hand. She was very determined to learn kung fu to improve herself.

It is better to rely on yourself than to rely on mountains and rivers, especially when you have a biological father like Gu Daniu. If she doesn't find a way to protect herself and relies on others...even her biological brother Gu Xiangrong, she can't rely on him now.

With Gu Xiangrong's physique, he couldn't even withstand a punch from Gu Daniu.

I was busy in the yard when I heard Second Auntie calling out from outside: "Xinxin, are you home?"

Gu Xinxin quickly responded, and the second aunt and the eldest aunt came in. The eldest aunt was a little embarrassed and carried a few eggs: "Xinxin, I haven't seen you for a few days. You look even prettier."

Gu Xinxin was also polite: "I haven't seen you for a few days. You seem to be in better shape now."

The eldest aunt chuckled twice and nudged the second aunt with her elbow. The second aunt then explained her purpose: "Didn't you say before that you had a way to make money that you could teach me?"

"It's just fried potato chips." Gu Xinxin nodded, not hiding anything: "Cut the potatoes into thin slices, fry them in lard, and then sprinkle them with the ingredients. It's very simple, but the ingredients are quite complicated. Auntie will buy them herself later. You have to use Sichuan peppercorns..."

She counted on her fingers: "Buy one or two grams first. When you're done, ask me to mix them. Then I'll make them for you at your house. You just watch and learn."

After a pause, she asked, "Auntie, Second Auntie has made an agreement with you, right? Every time your family earns one or two ounces of silver, you have to give me twenty copper coins."

The aunt nodded quickly: "I have said it, but Xinxin, look, aren't these twenty a bit too much? Our family is not like your second aunt's family. There are few people and few places to spend money. We have a large family, so there are many places to spend money. Your eldest cousin and second cousin just got married, and the family is still facing a famine..."

Gu Xinxin blinked and said as a matter of course: "There are more of you, so there are more people to work. By the time they are all learned, the eldest cousin's wife will go to the county town, the second cousin's wife will go to the town, and the third cousin can even go to the next county. I will confiscate all three of your family's wages."

So don't bother bargaining.

The eldest aunt choked and turned to look at the second aunt, who laughed heartily: "Do you think Xinxin is stupid? Xinxin has been taught by my third sister-in-law, and now she is different from before, very smart. Besides, you've made this scene, and I'm in a difficult position. You were at my house just now, and you said everything to me, but now you change your mind. If someone didn't know, they would think I didn't say anything."

The second aunt looked at Xinxin and waved her hand: "Xinxin, I'm not kidding you. I really agreed with your aunt, but she changed her mind when she got here. If you don't want to teach him, then don't teach him."

The second aunt stood up to leave. Of course she was angry because the aunt's bargaining made her lose face in front of Gu Xinxin.

The old lady quickly reached out and grabbed her: "Hey, look at you, I'm just asking. If Xinxin doesn't want to, then forget it. I didn't say it had to be this way, right? Making money is not easy. When we go out to buy things, don't we always ask if we can get a discount? I'm just used to asking. Really, why are you so angry? Sit down, sit down."

After she helped the second aunt sit down, she asked Gu Xinxin, "Twenty is twenty, can you read the account book?"

"Yes, is there anyone in your family who can keep accounts?" This is really rare. Let's put it this way, the only people in the village who can read are probably the village chief and his children and grandchildren. The prerequisite for keeping accounts is to be able to read and write down numbers.

We are all from the Gu family, and Gu Daniu never said that there has been a scholar in the first branch of the family.

The old lady waved her hands: "No, I just want to ask, how do you know how much to give you?"

"This is easy. I know exactly how many potatoes your family used and how many ingredients you bought. I can calculate how many potato chips you should sell." Gu Xinxin smiled. It turned out that she was testing herself.

She said it plainly: "If you don't believe me, just ask Second Auntie how much she sells in a day. I know it by heart."

The second aunt nodded and said, "Indeed, she can tell how many potatoes she has sold today by looking at how many are left after she gets up early and takes them away."

Again, it was about right. Business was stable now, and at most they could make five taels of silver a day. She could give 80 or 100, and Gu Xinxin wouldn't mind. But it couldn't be less than 80. If it was less, Gu Xinxin would ask if there was something wrong with the business.

After all, they were sisters-in-law, and their business wasn't involved, so she gave her eldest sister-in-law some advice: "Sometimes when business is bad, Xinxin can give you some advice, so if you want to make less money, you must tell Xinxin."

The aunt nodded quickly: "Okay, then I'll go buy the seasoning tomorrow, and ask your cousin's wife to call you when I'm done."

After they had discussed it, the two of them left.

Gu Xinxin quickly took the eggs to the kitchen - the old lady was not stingy and gave her ten eggs in total.

When giving gifts, unless it is something very special, people usually give pairs rather than odd numbers.

Gu Xinxin threw the eggs into the pot and cooked them all at once. She ate three of them herself to supplement her protein. There was no other way. Without high-quality protein meat like beef, she could only eat more eggs. Otherwise, she would not get enough nutrition and would not be able to build muscles.

I was full after eating three and was choking.

She took the remaining ones to her room, planning to eat some in the evening and give some to Gu Xiangrong as well. As for the others, they had no share.

Old Mrs. Gu was whining in the room: "Xinxin, your aunt came over just now. Did she take the eggs?"

"Did you take it? I don't know, I didn't see it." Gu Xinxin stood in horse stance at the door of her room with her hands open, each holding a bucket, and refused to let anyone into the room no matter what.

Old Lady Gu asked again, "Your aunt must have taken it. She has something to ask you, so she must have brought some gifts. It would be very rude if she didn't take it. I'll go to her house and ask her later."