Su Jinli scooped up a little of the base sauce and placed it in her mouth. The spiciness melted gently on her tongue. It lacked the overpowering flavor of yesterday's hot pot, instead offering a subtle sweetness that lingered, like the gentle spring rain in the south of the Yangtze River, yet left a lasting aftertaste. "It's delicious indeed!" Her eyes lit up, and she looked at Si Yan, only to see her son had already pulled out his account book, his ink rustling across the pages as he calculated the profits: "The shipping cost from Shu to the capital is five taels and three cents. Each package costs eight cents and two cents. Selling two taels, I'd make twelve taels and four cents on ten packages... If we make it in bulk, the cost can be even lower, and the profits are sure to be even more substantial!"
Jiang Yan leaned against the door frame and smiled bitterly. He reached out and wiped the spice powder off Si Yan's nose. It was from getting too close earlier. "You two, mother and son, always have a plan in mind wherever you go. You're born businessmen." Before he finished speaking, Nian Li jumped up with the base sauce bag in her arms. The silver bells in her hair jingled like a string of cheerful notes. "I'm going to take this back to my sister! Let her try something this spicy too. See if she still says I'm a greedy cat!"
Shopkeeper Wang laughed at this and stuffed two more packets of dried chilies into the oil-paper bag, tying it tightly with straw rope. "What a lively girl! These are bullet-shaped chilies from Guizhou. Take them back and stir-fry them with twice-cooked pork. They'll be delicious! I guarantee your sister will be full of praise for them." Si Yan, however, grabbed Su Jinli's sleeve, her little face full of excitement, her eyes gleaming with business opportunities. "Mom, let's open a shop in Beijing selling base sauce! I've seen that no one in Beijing sells such delicious Sichuan-style spicy sauce. It's sure to be a big hit!"
The afternoon sun finally broke through the clouds, filtering through the latticed windows of the spice shop, casting dappled shadows on Siyan's abacus. Su Jinli gazed at her son's gleaming eyes, then at Jiang Yan's helpless yet doting smile. Suddenly, she felt the spiciness of Sichuan not only warm her tongue but also smoothed the wrinkles lingering in her heart from a past life. She recalled the days in the Prime Minister's residence when she couldn't even enjoy spicy tofu. Then, looking at the steaming packet of spice in front of her, she suddenly understood the meaning of her grandfather's letter, "It can be used for other things." This spice wasn't just a craving; it held business opportunities she'd never imagined, and the promise of a lifetime of steaming goodness.
Jiang Yan seemed to see through her thoughts. He walked forward and held her hand. His fingertips touched the thin calluses on her palm, which were proof of the hard work she had gone through. "If you want to do it, do it. I'll help you. Whether it's finding a shop or opening up sales channels, I'll be there." Si Yan immediately responded, patting her chest loudly: "I'll be the accountant! I'll make sure every penny is calculated clearly and no one will take advantage of us!" Nian Li cheered while holding up a bunch of peppers, her voice crisp: "I'll be the taster! I won't agree to anything that doesn't taste good!"
Shopkeeper Wang looked at the bustling family, twirling his goatee and smiling, "Great, great! If you open a shop in the capital, just write me if you need any ingredients. I'm still strong enough to supply you with the best!"
As they left the spice shop, Si Yan was still mumbling about shipping costs and profits, his little head full of numbers and abacus. Nian Li ran after butterflies, holding a bunch of chilies, her silvery laughter filling the street. Jiang Yan carried the bag of base sauce for Su Jin Li, his steps steady. The sun cast long shadows on them, as if sketching a warm family portrait on the ground.
Su Jinli looked at everything before her, and suddenly felt as if the rain in Shu had stopped, the sky exceptionally clear. And her life was just beginning to boil. The packet of hot pot base, fragrant in the bamboo basket, was like a seed buried in the years, absorbing the essence of Shu's sunshine and spices. It was about to sprout in the land of the capital, a pot of steaming good days, not only warming their stomachs but also filling their lives, making every day of this life filled with hope and sweetness.
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