Chapter 132 Flirting
Forty-two soldiers had a daily wage of 160 coins. Add in Uncle Niu's supervisory fee and two meals a day, and Sui Yu's daily expenses totaled at least 175 coins. Her food shop, however, saw a profit of only 50 coins a day as the weather warmed up. Even with her remaining cash, even if she didn't spend money on loess and hay, she could only last a month at most.
On the first day of work, Sui Yu waited until all the customers in the shop had left, and she hurried out.
"Boss Sui, where are you going?" The woman squatting outside the door picking vegetables greeted him.
"Let's go west. Are your radishes ready to eat?" Sui Yu kept walking. When the woman said she wanted to give her some radishes, she said loudly, "Xiaomi is in the shop. Call her out to get them."
After he finished speaking, he turned out of the alley and disappeared.
After walking for a stick of incense, the wasteland where construction had begun came into view. Thick smoke was billowing from the area, and a strong wind blew, spreading the dust and smoke, like a swarm of locusts covering the sky.
Uncle Niu led Ah Shui away and, catching a glimpse of Sui Yu from the corner of his eye, he asked, "Why are you here?"
"I couldn't sit still in the shop, so I came over to take a look."
"Buying land and building a house will cost a lot of money." Uncle Niu was amazed. "You guys are quite bold."
Sui Yu smiled and sighed: "Who says it's not true? All the money I saved in the past few years has been put into this."
Hearing this, Uncle Niu understood. Zhao Xiping's salary was only a little higher this year. In previous years, he had the same annual salary of 600 coins as him. From the beginning of the year to the end of the year, he could only save 200 to 300 coins at most. In the final analysis, it was Sui Yu who could make money. She made money by cooking.
"Zhao Xiping is also digging." said Uncle Lao Niu.
Sui Yu nodded, she covered her mouth and nose, and walked quickly into the smoke and dust. She and Zhao Xiping had come here before to draw the lines and mark the dimensions. The width of the foundation, the depth and length of the yard had all been measured. She had to go and see if these people had started construction according to the layout she had planned.
Sui Yu disappeared, and Ah Shui finally spoke boldly. She pointed and said, "Sister-in-law."
"You still remember her? We met last year." Uncle Niu nodded. "You should call her sister-in-law. Go back with her later. She will make something delicious."
A Shui smiled and didn't say yes or no.
About a cup of tea later, Sui Yu came over, covered in dust. She coughed a few times and said, "Uncle Niu, please bear with me these days and hurry up. The money is really not coming in handy, otherwise I wouldn't ask for it. I guess we'll have to stop working for a while by the end of the month, otherwise I'll have to pay you on credit."
Uncle Niu pushed Ah Shui over and said, "Get paid on time this month. I'll talk to people at the end of the month and maybe someone will let you pay them on credit for a month or two. It'll only be two or three months before we're idle. After August, we'll be busy with the autumn harvest."
Sui Yu thanked him again. She squatted down and looked at Ah Shui. She asked softly, "Ah Shui, can you go back with your sister-in-law? Your sister-in-law will cook you some meat and eggs, and your brother will play with you."
A Shui happily reached out his hand and took her hand.
"This kid..." Uncle Niu laughed.
"Then I'll take her back." Sui Yu stood up and said, "If she cries, I'll bring her back to you."
"OK."
Sui Yu led A Shui back. The child was very bold and daring. She was worried that A Shui would cry and make a fuss on the way and ask for her father, but she didn't expect that A Shui would be so focused on the delicious meat and eggs that she completely forgot that she had a father.
With so many children, time wasted watching birds, picking flowers, or sitting on rocks and chatting. It was already noon when they entered the shop, and Zhao Xiaomi and Sui Liang were busy and sweating.
Sui Yu pulled Ah Shui inside, scooped a braised egg into her bowl, and said, "Just sit here and don't run out."
Ah Shui's eyes were fixed on the braised eggs, and he didn't care to listen to what she said.
Sui Yu tied on an apron and took over the cooking, saying, "Liang Ge'er, Xiaomi, you two should pay more attention to Ah Shui and keep an eye on her so she doesn't run away."
"Where did you bring this little girl back from? Is she yours and Captain Zhao's?" a customer asked. He compared her carefully and said, "No, she doesn't look like you two."
"A relative's child, a hired helper." Sui Yu handed the braised soup noodles to the waiting diners and said hurriedly while looking up.
Ah Shui swung his legs and ate the braised eggs with relish in his hands.
"You and Captain Zhao haven't had children yet?" an old lady took the opportunity to ask.
Sui Yu shook his head and said, "That child only knows how to enjoy life. He probably thinks my family is poor and doesn't want to come."
This was quite novel, and those who heard it couldn't help laughing after pondering it.
"Your family is still poor?" The bald old man and his old wife walked in one after the other. He chose a place near the door and sat down. He said, "Others may not know it, but I do. Your family is not poor at all."
"I don't think we're that poor anymore. Uncle and aunt, what would you like to eat?" Sui Yu pursed her lips and smiled, then said helplessly, "That kid must be greedy. He thinks we're not rich enough."
"Give me a plate of steamed dumplings, and your aunt can have some braised soup noodles." The old bald uncle first stuffed the meal money into Sui Liang's pocket and suggested, "It's hot out, you should think of something cooler to eat. I've been sitting here for a while and I'm sweating all over."
Sui Yu took it to heart and said, "Just make do with it for a few days. If the weather gets hotter, I'll serve you cold soup noodles."
The old woman wiped her mouth with a rag, stood up to pay the bill, and said casually, "I know a doctor who can examine women's bellies. Do you want to see him?"
Sui Yu waved her hand and said, "Thank you, old auntie, but I have no problem. I don't plan to have children in the next two years."
The business at the food store was too busy and the construction of the inn had just started. It would be bad if she got pregnant at this time. Sui Yu was very satisfied with her current situation and didn't want any changes.
Everyone just chatted for a while, and seeing that Sui Yu didn't seem to be worried about having a child, these diners didn't mention it anymore and forgot about it as soon as they left the shop.
The busiest time was over, and only two or three diners remained in the shop. Sui Yu went out to wash her face, then went back inside to wash the pot and prepare to cook egg, vegetable and noodle soup for them. She smelled the brine every day, and no matter how delicious it was, it would eventually become too much.
Sui Liang poked Sui Yu and quietly pointed in the direction where A Shui was sitting. The little girl leaned against the wall silently, wiping her tears.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Sui Yu handed the spatula to Zhao Xiaomi. She took off her apron and walked over, asking softly, "Why are you crying, Ah Shui? Are you missing your dad? I'll take you there later."
Ah Shui shook her head. She sniffled and choked up, saying, "Ah Shui misses his mother. My mother can also cook this egg."
I was still too young and my memory was wrong. When Tong Huaer was helping in the shop, she would bring back one or two unsold braised eggs every now and then. Uncle Lao Niu saved them all, and Ah Shui could eat a braised egg almost every morning.
No one spoke in the shop for a while. Sui Yu took her out to wash her hands and face and said, "Would you like some candy? Sister-in-law asked Liang Ge'er to take you to buy some malt sugar."
As soon as she was given the candy, Ah Shui stopped crying immediately. She nodded heavily, tears still in her eyes and her mouth was grinning.
Sui Liang grabbed a handful of copper coins and led A Shui out.
"Will Tong Huaer come back in the future?" Zhao Xiaomi asked in a low voice.
Sui Yu shook his head, "I guess he won't come back."
"Ah Shui will probably forget almost everything in two years. I can't even remember what I was like when I was two or three years old." Zhao Xiaomi sighed and said, "Uncle Niu raised this little girl very well. She has a chubby face."
Sui Yu nodded. She also felt that A Shui would not remember Tong Huaer when he grew up.
The egg and vegetable noodles were cooked, and Sui Liang came back carrying Ah Shui. After putting her down, he took a deep breath and said, "She's really fat. I'm so tired."
As he spoke, he handed out two pieces of malt candy and said, "Two sisters, eat quickly, this is for you."
Whenever Sui Liang bought candy, he would always remember to buy one for Sui Yu.
After eating the candy, their mouths felt sweet, but after drinking the noodle soup, their mouths felt salty. The strange taste made the four of them smack their lips constantly.
After eating, A Shui wanted to go to bed. Sui Yu went to the old tu's house next door to borrow a mattress, wrapped the child in it and put him to sleep on the table. She, Zhao Xiaomi and Sui Liang gathered around another table to knead and roll dough to prepare for dinner.
When Ah Shui woke up, she lay there in a daze for a while. When she came to her senses, she wanted to help make the dumplings. Sui Yu gave her a piece of dough and let her make it as she pleased.
When it was getting dark, Uncle Niu came to pick people up. He was covered in dust and dirt, as if he had just crawled out of a ash den.
"I'll go back tomorrow to get some clothes. I'll come back tonight and take a bath in the river before coming back." Uncle Niu pushed away the child who was running towards him. He took Ah Shui's hand and said, "Sui Yu, Ah Shui, have you eaten yet?"
"I ate three steamed dumplings, a bowl of steamed eggs, and a small piece of raw radish." Sui Yu sent him out and said to Ah Shui, "Don't go out with your father to eat ashes tomorrow morning. Come here early and I'll save the biggest braised egg for you."
Ah Shui nodded heavily and said crisply, "Sister-in-law, wait for me."
"Wait for you, wait for you." Sui Yu waved at her and said, "Uncle Lao Niu, you should cover your face with a scarf to hide the dust tomorrow."
"Hey, I had that plan too." At the end of the alley, Uncle Niu ran into Zhao Xiping. He casually asked, "You're back so late too?"
"Well, how much did you dig today? Have you dug out the foundation of the west kitchen?"
"I dug it out. I'm keeping a close eye on it. No one's slacking off. We can go dig over there by the livestock pen tomorrow."
Zhao Xiping was satisfied. The speed was not too slow. He nodded and said, "I'll take today's wages to pay them tomorrow."
"Well, the wages can't be delayed. Most of those willing to do the heavy and dirty work are short on money."
As they talked, the two of them didn't stop. Zhao Xiping passed Uncle Niu and went straight into the shop.
Sui Yu saw someone and said, "There's some leftover egg and vegetable soup with noodles from lunch. Would you like some? I'll heat it up for you."
"Alright, I'll eat what you have left." Zhao Xiping agreed readily, but his words were annoying. "It seems that Boss Sui is really short of money. He couldn't even bear to give me a bowl of braised soup noodles."
Sui Yu glared at me, holding the spoon in her hand and scolding me with a snarl, "Isn't it because I'm afraid you'll be craving this soup again? You were craving it for half a year last year, and today I specially saved a bowl for you, and you're scorning it again?"
"Don't mind, don't mind. I'm honest and I'll eat whatever you give me." Zhao Xiping came in with a smile.
Sui Yu glanced at him again and ordered, "Pour out the water in the pot and add a plate of steamed dumplings for you."
Zhao Xiping did as he was told immediately.
As the leftover rice was poured into the pot, Zhao Xiaomi leaned over and asked quietly, "Are you really not going to cook braised noodles for my third brother?"
"Don't listen to his nonsense, he just likes to eat this."
"Yes, I like eating leftovers." Zhao Xiping responded.
Sui Yu wanted to knock the bastard on the head, so she cracked two eggs into the bowl. After the eggs were cooked, she changed the bowl to a large one and served the noodles.
As the spoon dipped into the earthenware pot of braised eggs, Zhao Xiping strode over and said hurriedly, "No more braised broth. I ate too much ash today and my mouth is dry. I want something lighter."
Sui Yu stood up and chuckled.
Zhao Xiaomi realized that she was the clown, snorted loudly and ran away.
Gan Da and Gan Er also came in. They had obviously taken a bath in the river, and their clothes were dust-free. As soon as they entered the door, they rushed to the water tank to wash the dishes.
By the end, all the customers had left, leaving behind five unsold buns, half a bowl of steamed dumplings, and some stewed vegetables that had sunk to the bottom. The two brothers, having already eaten the meal sent by Aunt Yin in the evening, ate another meal now, looking as if they were still not full.
On the way back, Zhao Xiping explained, "The foundation for the west kitchen has been dug. Tomorrow we'll dig the livestock pen, which might take two days. Digging the foundation for the guest rooms will probably take three or four days. We'll dig two holes first, and then we'll start mixing mud and grass to tamp the soil."
"It's going pretty fast. It's worth hiring forty or fifty people." Sui Yu felt hopeful. She turned around and asked, "By the beginning of June, will the western kitchen and the livestock pen be mostly finished?"
"It should be possible."
"Okay, I'll hurry up and make money, and try to build the two guest houses before autumn comes." Sui Yu encouraged himself.
"What?" Zhao Xiaomi didn't understand. "What are you busy with?"
When they got home, Sui Yu told them the whole story of opening the inn and instructed them, "Just keep this to yourself. Don't let anything slip. If the people in Minxiang knew we were stealing their business, they would probably kick us out."
Zhao Xiaomi and Sui Liang nodded repeatedly. Zhao Xiaomi said admiringly, "Third sister-in-law, I underestimated you. You are someone who can accomplish great things."
Sui Liang nodded desperately.
"Your head is about to fall off." Zhao Xiping caught his chin and said, "Get some water and take a bath. Go to bed early."
Then he said to Zhao Xiaomi, "You too."
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