Chapter 42 Master Fan
"Hey! Did you hear? The Zhang family is selling braised pork offal now!"
"I heard it's only two coins a bowl! Hey! Cheaper than what Madam Fan sells!"
“Hai, his family sells pork, so they don’t need to buy offal, which is why it’s cheaper.”
"Let's go, let's go take a look."
On the streets of the small town, Fan Xiaoxiao and her companions walked against the flow of people, surrounded by a throng of people quietly discussing the Zhang family's new business.
Aunt Wang was furious and complained to Fan Xiaoxiao with a face full of indignation, "The Zhang family is really too much! They wouldn't let us sell the other day, and now they're reaping the benefits! It's infuriating!"
The old woman, gritting her teeth, turned around and saw that Fan Xiaoxiao didn't seem to care at all. She couldn't help but ask, somewhat annoyed, "Girl, aren't you angry? The Zhang family has practically stolen our business!"
Fan Xiaoxiao, who was suddenly brought up, shook her head indifferently and said, "What's there to be angry about? There are so many people in this town, we can't just stop the Zhang family from setting up their stall. Besides, Auntie, what they're selling isn't some kind of braised offal! It's boiled offal!"
"That's right, old woman, there's no need to be angry. You know how easy it is to make braised pork offal. Didn't you smell the aroma from Zhang's pot when you passed by earlier? Do you think that aroma can compare to what the girl makes?"
When this was mentioned, Aunt Wang really thought about it carefully. When they passed by Zhang's stall just now, they clearly did not smell any fragrance, but only a faint fishy and pungent stench.
"It really is true!"
Thinking of the smell of the food made by the Zhang family, Aunt Wang instantly stopped being angry. Seeing that her expression had softened, Fan Xiaoxiao smiled and continued, "Besides, if we don't do that business anymore, we can still earn other money!"
Speaking of this, Aunt Wang remembered the fifty taels of silver that Fan Xiaoxiao and Uncle Wang brought back from the Ji family that day. Her expression completely relaxed, and she smiled and sighed, "Ah, seeing how well you earn money, my girl, your life with Fan Niang and her two children will definitely get better and better. Your brother-in-law and your father in heaven can rest in peace now."
Fan Xiaoxiao could tell that Aunt Wang was genuinely happy for her and her sister, without considering that they had actually contributed a lot to this matter. Her heart softened; she hadn't seen such pure and kind people in a long time. Ever since they began their escape, they had received a lot of care from the Wang family, and now they were still genuinely thinking of them.
However, Fan Xiaoxiao still intended to settle the accounts clearly regarding the money. She rubbed her face, smiled at Aunt Wang, and said:
“Auntie, this money is what we earned together! I have to pay you and Uncle your wages! I was busy the other day and forgot, so let’s split it 30/70, with us getting 70% and you getting 20% and him 30%, how does that sound?”
Aunt Wang was slightly taken aback by Fan Xiaoxiao's sudden news. After exchanging a glance with Uncle Wang, her face immediately flushed, and she waved her hands repeatedly to refuse Fan Xiaoxiao: "No..."
"Auntie! You can't refuse me! Even brothers keep clear accounts! If I keep letting you help me for free, it will only hurt our relationship! I treat you like an elder, so you can't be so distant with me. Since you're helping your niece, you can't skimp on the pay! Don't you want to earn money? You have to listen to me on this, okay?"
Fan Xiaoxiao's tone was firm and serious, leaving no room for argument. Aunt Wang's face flushed slightly, and her eyes reddened as well. She truly hadn't expected to earn money from helping out. Her hands trembled, unsure what to do with them, so she could only rub them against her clothes, nodding tearfully and agreeing, "Okay!"
Fan Xiaoxiao nodded and smiled at Aunt Wang: "Yes, Auntie! Our lives will be good!"
Uncle Wang, who was standing to the side, looked at the two of them, smiled and shook his head.
"Er Ya, you child!"
As they spoke, the three of them walked outside the Linjiang Restaurant.
Ji Yushu had been waiting outside the restaurant with several of his family's cooks. When he saw Fan Xiaoxiao and the others pushing the cart over, he quickly led them forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Miss Fan, Uncle Wang, Aunt Wang. Are these the things we need today? Come, let's get started."
After saying that, he waved to the cooks. Uncle Wang, who had been tired from the journey, was happy to hand over his cart to them when he saw someone was taking on the work.
The cooks worked quickly and efficiently, moving the sacks from the cart into the kitchen in no time. Ji Yushu watched with curiosity as the cooks carried the sacks into the kitchen, then went over and opened one. Inside was a powdery substance.
Seeing the doubt on his face, Fan Xiaoxiao stepped forward and explained, "This is the powder made from mung beans that we mentioned before. There wasn't enough time to grind it today, so I brought it from home."
After she finished speaking, she added another sentence.
"Oh, right! I bought these mung beans with my own money! Remember to pay me for them later! It's ten catties of mung beans, bought from a shop at the east end of the market, and it cost forty coins! I won't charge you for the processing fee; consider it a friendly gift since we're cooperating."
Ji Yushu was somewhat amused and exasperated, but he didn't dislike Fan Xiaoxiao's way of doing things. He immediately took out his money pouch, counted out forty coins, and handed them to Fan Xiaoxiao, saying, "Then I, Ji, will thank you in advance, my lady."
After receiving the money, Fan Xiaoxiao smiled, revealing her white teeth: "You're welcome! Okay, let's get down to business. Let me see which one we should start with."
After saying that, Fan Xiaoxiao glanced at the various ingredients prepared in the kitchen. Just as she passed the water tank in the kitchen, a grass carp in the tank flicked its tail, splashing water all over Fan Xiaoxiao with a "splash." This startled the unsuspecting Fan Xiaoxiao, and she jumped up, almost blurting out a curse.
"Miss Fan! Are...are you alright...?"
Seeing Fan Xiaoxiao covered in water, Ji Yushu hesitated even when asking her question.
"Oh dear! You're all soaked! Girl, dry yourself off first."
Aunt Wang came over with a dry cloth. Fan Xiaoxiao took it, thanked her, and then hastily wiped the water off her head. The big grass carp in the water tank probably couldn't stand her being dry, and it swung its tail again. Fortunately, this time Fan Xiaoxiao was prepared and wasn't splashed with water again.
But she made a lasting impression on this fish. Fan Xiaoxiao put down the dry cloth in her hand, rolled up her sleeves, and said through gritted teeth, "I think we should start with fish balls today!"
After saying that, she walked to the water tank. She grabbed the large grass carp that had splashed water all over her and slammed it onto the cutting board with a loud "thud." The fish tried to jump around, but Fan Xiaoxiao snorted and grabbed a gleaming kitchen knife from the side.
With a swift and decisive strike, the knife knocked the fish unconscious with a sharp "smack."
The force she used made Ji Yushu, watching from the side, grind his teeth. He truly hadn't expected that this petite and slender Fan Xiaoniang could be so nimble in killing a fish. Without any hesitation, she scaled the fish, gutted it, and removed the lateral line. The entire process of killing the fish was incredibly smooth and effortless.
"This young lady is an expert!"
"yes!"
Ji Yushu hissed and glared at the two cooks who were secretly whispering to each other.
"You two better learn this properly! Lady Fan will only teach you this once!"
"Yes, yes! Okay, boss!"
(End of this chapter)
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