First time in the city
Because Yu Ying was busy all day and was very tired, she had a good sleep at night.
It was dawn, and Yu Ying woke up when the first rooster crowed.
He sat up from the straw bed, and after waking up for a while, he twisted his sprained foot.
My ankle has gotten much better now. I no longer feel the stinging pain I had a few days ago. The swelling has also gone down. Now it's just a little swollen. I should be able to recover after applying the herbal compress for another day or two.
After putting on her straw sandals, Yu Ying came out of the house in the dark. Seeing how dark it was outside, she was frightened, but poverty helped her overcome this fear.
There is nothing more terrible than poverty, hunger and cold. If there is, it is because you are not poor enough.
She walked to the water tank, took out the clay pot, and poked it lightly with a bamboo chopstick. She felt that it had solidified and breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, all the work was not in vain.
Putting the pot aside, she plucked a few mint leaves and chewed them. A light and refreshing fragrance immediately spread in her mouth.
She used bamboo to open a small piece of land in the yard yesterday and planted all the mint.
After washing up, I was looking for a bowl and a wooden spoon to scoop some out when Mrs. Luo came out of the house.
Luo lowered his voice and asked, "How can I help you?"
Yu Ying looked into Luo's cloudy eyes in the dim light. After a moment's silence, she said, "I do have something I can help you with. Please wait a moment."
Luo just waited.
Yu Ying used a wooden spoon to mash a few pieces of mint in the bowl, then scooped some water to rinse it out. A faint mint fragrance wafted out.
She washed the spoon again, scooped out three spoonfuls of jelly, put them into the bowl, stirred them, and handed it to Mrs. Luo.
She whispered, "Try it for me and see how it tastes."
Mrs. Luo was stunned for a moment. She really didn't expect this kind of help, but she still put down the bamboo pole, fumbled to scoop a mouthful and put it into her mouth. As soon as she put it in her mouth, a cool breath filled her entire mouth.
Although it has no taste, it is refreshing and has a smooth and light texture.
"What is this?" asked Luo.
Yu Ying: "Jelly jelly."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "I made it with wild fruits from the mountains. When Fu An wakes up, tell him not to tell anyone else. I want to sell it."
When Mrs. Luo heard her say she wanted to sell it, she became a little worried: "If I sell this jelly for a high price, will no one buy it?"
Yu Ying was not in a hurry and asked her to describe how it tasted first.
Mrs. Luo hadn't eaten good food for a long time, and was afraid that what she said was wrong, so she hesitated and remained silent.
Yu Ying knew her concerns and said directly, "Just say it directly."
Luo then spoke up, "It has a unique taste. It's icy and cool, and might be even more refreshing than sour plum soup. It tastes similar to tofu pudding, but is more elastic, and seems to be able to relieve summer heat."
Yu Ying: "It does have the effect of relieving summer heat. Night-breathing incense can also clear the head and relieve phlegm. You can use it to gargle in the morning or soak it in water and drink it."
After the explanation, she also made some to taste herself. It did taste a little worse without sugar, but it was the most normal food she had eaten in recent times.
Moreover, she sells them for the sake of novelty and is not looking for repeat customers.
After thinking for a moment, Yu Ying said, "I didn't intend to sell it too expensively. Just one penny per bamboo tube. If I can't sell it, I can just bring it back in the afternoon."
Yesterday she went into the mountains again, quickly cut down a thick bamboo, and without caring about the eyes of others, dragged it directly back to the Fu family yard.
After hauling back the bamboo, she cut several bamboo tubes and ground the tops of the tubes smooth on stones to make cups. She also made a long bamboo tube with a lid to hold the mint water.
Yu Ying glanced at the jelly in her hand. Although she had only stayed in Lingshui Village and had never been out, Lingnan was a poor place and ordinary people only wanted to fill their stomachs and would not eat superficial food.
After all, it was Yu who took care of it herself, so Luo didn't say anything.
Yu Ying crushed some mint leaves, mixed them with river water, and then poured them into a long bamboo tube and covered it.
The mint has a strong smell. After arriving in Yu County, I bought a clay pot and found some well water to rinse it.
As the sky gradually brightened, Luo woke up her grandson and asked him to take Yu to the village entrance.
Fu An rubbed his eyes, thinking that the woman might not come back, he was delighted and quickly got up to see her off.
Fu An walked out of the house, and Fu Wei looked out the window at the yard, watching his wife, who was in name only, leaving. The sun was rising in front of him, and she was facing the sun, as if she had endless energy.
Fu Wei withdrew his gaze with an indifferent expression, and there was still a dead look in his eyes.
*
Yu Ying was carrying a backpack with herbs on top and a few bamboo tubes and a pottery jar filled with jelly underneath.
She left with only a silver leaf and seven copper coins.
It took about a minute to walk to the village with Fuan.
Fu An kicked the stones on the roadside and beat the weeds with a stick in his hand.
Yu Ying glanced at him and said, "I've put some jelly on the firewood pile in my room. Divide it into four portions for lunch. For each bowl, pound some leaves from the yard on either side. I'll prepare dinner for you when I get back."
Fu An paused in his waving of the weeds, then turned to stare at her in disbelief: "You're coming back?!"
Yu Ying raised her eyebrows slightly: "You don't want me to come back?"
Fu An's skinny face wrinkled immediately, and without hesitation, he said, "I don't hope!"
Yu Ying, however, was good-tempered and calmly asked him, "You hope I won't come back. Are you here to heal your grandmother and your uncle's eyes and legs? Or do you have money to buy pottery to cook?"
Fu An was speechless for a moment after being asked this question, but then he said, "Can you really cure my grandma and uncle's legs?"
Yu Ying looked at him and asked, "What if I am cured?"
Fu An thought for a moment and replied, "If you can cure me, I will never go west if you tell me to. I will do whatever you tell me to do!"
"Then it's a deal, don't regret it."
Fu An held his head high and puffed out his chest: "My word is my bond!"
Yu Ying was a little surprised to hear the idiom that Fu An blurted out, but then she thought that Luo was originally from a wealthy family and could read and write, so it was no problem for her to teach her children and grandchildren.
Yu Ying smiled faintly.
When they arrived at the village entrance, there was no one else waiting there except Yu Ying and Fu An.
After a while, I saw an old man wearing a straw hat slowly driving an old yellow cow from a distance.
Luo and Yu Ying mentioned that Uncle Chen's son worked as an accountant in a small restaurant. Relying on this relationship, Uncle Chen would deliver some melons and vegetables to the city every three days, and pick up some villagers along the way to earn some money.
There was only a young woman with a two-year-old child on the ox cart. Their clothes were neat and had few patches. They should be considered a relatively well-off family in these villages.
Yu Ying gave Uncle Chen a penny and got on the ox cart.
On the way, Yu Ying asked and learned that it would take an hour to get from Lingshui Village to Yu County, and that he would arrive in Yu County at around 9:00 PM. He would wait at the city gate at 5:00 PM, and would not wait after that time.
She calculated that she would have to stay in the city for about two and a half hours.
Another middle-aged man got on the bus. Everyone was wary of each other and no one spoke to each other. We bumped along the way all the way to Yu County.
After entering the city, the situation inside was similar to what Yu Ying had imagined.
There are no flourishing flowers, only dilapidated streets.
There were many people squatting on both sides of the road, with a backpack in front of them. In the baskets were live animals, wild game, wild fruits or wild vegetables. They bought everything they could exchange for money.
The streets were crowded with people, but almost everyone's clothes had patches on them.
Yu Ying waited until everyone else had left before asking Uncle Chen where to buy the pottery jars and get water.
Uncle Chen pointed in the direction of buying pottery jars, then asked her, "What do you want to fetch water for?"
Yu Ying said truthfully, "I made some snacks that needed water, so I bought some clay pots and planned to set up a stall."
Uncle Chen thought about it and realized that if she wanted to eat, she might have to take the bus several times in the future, so he asked her to get in the car: "I'll take you there on the way. You can get some water from the small restaurant where my son works."
Yu Ying quickly thanked him.
When they arrived at the small restaurant where Uncle Chen's son worked, they saw various pottery jars displayed not far away, and Uncle Chen said to her.
He said he would tell his son and that he could just tell him when she came to get some water.
After thanking him again, Yu Ying hurried to inquire about the price of the pottery jar.
After asking, I learned that a wide-mouthed pottery jar with ears cost seven cents, and one without ears cost five cents. However, Yu Ying only had a small silver leaf and six cents on her, so she naturally chose the one without ears. At most, she could use it to build a stone stove when she got home.
When she came back from buying pottery jars, Grandpa Chen was still chatting with his son about the harvest in the fields. Seeing her come back, he was a little surprised: "You picked so quickly?"
After all, his wife was not only picky when buying things, but also had to haggle for a long time, so Uncle Chen was a little surprised.
Yu Ying smiled and said, "It won't take too long to choose a clay pot."
"She's quite helpful." Uncle Chen felt more favorable towards him, and then he said to his son, "She made some food and wants some water. Ask her to fetch some."
Uncle Chen's son, Shopkeeper Chen, glanced at her, his eyes just sweeping across the light black spots on her face.
Although he had spots on his face, his facial features were good and he was fairer and cleaner than the people in Lingnan. So he didn't look ugly, just an ordinary person.
Because her clothes and appearance were simple and clean, she was much more pleasing to the eye than the usual dirty country women. Manager Chen did not refuse and called a waiter to take her to the backyard to fetch water.
Yu Ying thanked him twice again and then went to fetch some water.
While fetching water to wash the pottery jars, Yu Ying observed the small restaurant.
The store is not very big, with just a counter and four tables and chairs.
Since it's not noon yet, there are no customers in the store yet.
Perhaps it was because there were no customers that the shopkeeper was willing to pay attention to her.
Yu Ying had an idea in mind. After pondering it for a while, she scooped some jelly into two bamboo tubes and added mint water. After putting the things down and saying something to the shop assistant, she took the two bamboo tubes and left the shop.
Walking up to the Chen family father and son, she said, "I took Uncle Chen's car today, and Shopkeeper Chen asked me to get some water. I don't have anything good, but if you two don't mind, try this ice cream. It's refreshing and can clear away heat and relieve summer heat."
There is controversy about jelly. People who don’t know it think it is powder made from flour.
Moreover, the word "bing" is like quenching thirst by looking at plums. Just hearing this word makes people know that it will have an icy taste.
Shopkeeper Chen was probably in his early thirties and had a square face.
Since restaurant owners are all very good at dealing with people, Shopkeeper Chen didn't show any impatience. Moreover, the name of ice cream was something he found novel, so he said, "I've never heard of such a food. Let me take a look."
Since it's just a look and not a taste, I still have to be cautious.
Yu Ying brought it over and said with a smile, "If you pour it into a bowl, you can see it more clearly."
Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Chen asked his waiter to bring two bowls.
After the bowl was brought, milky white and somewhat crystal clear jelly was poured out from the bamboo tube.
When it was poured out, the jelly bounced slightly.
Shopkeeper Chen showed some interest in the food and said, "It's a novel food."
He hesitated for a moment, and when he saw that there was nothing unusual, he picked it up and took a sip.
After tasting it, he didn't show much surprise on his face. He just said, "The taste is okay, but the flavor is a little off. But in this hot summer, it can still be sold at a low price."
Yu Ying said, "If you add some sugar or plum juice, the taste will be different."
Shopkeeper Chen chuckled. "Sugar is a rare commodity. Ordinary people only try it occasionally. But..." He put down the bowl and said, "You want to sell this to me, right?"
Because he had seen many people who traveled all over the country, Manager Chen saw through Yu Ying's thoughts at a glance.
Yu Ying looked a little embarrassed: "I do have this idea, what do you think, Shopkeeper Chen?"
Shopkeeper Chen asked the waiter to bring some sugar water over. He only put in a spoonful of sugar water and took another bite. The taste was indeed better than before.
He put down his bowl and said, "This thing is delicious for its freshness. Besides, it's only suitable for summer. I can sell it, but I can't afford the price. I can help you with this, but we have to split the proceeds 50-50."
Yu Ying originally planned to buy a bowl for one penny, but after hearing what he said, she changed her mind.
"I'll buy you two cents a bowl, what do you think, Shopkeeper Chen?"
Shopkeeper Chen smiled and asked, "What's the cost of the sugar water?"
Yu Ying: ...
She hadn't intended to add sugar.
But since they had agreed to help, Yu Ying naturally didn't care about those conditions. She immediately responded, "Then we'll split it 50-50 after deducting the fees."
The shop would usually sell some items on consignment, with Manager Chen making some money and the boss making the lion's share, so there was nothing wrong with him doing it.
Even so, Shopkeeper Chen still explained: "Approximately how much, I can't take too much."
Yu Ying: "Probably still have thirteen or fourteen bowls."
Shopkeeper Chen was a good accountant after all, so after a moment's discussion, he said, "Let me be frank. If we sell all the syrup, it will cost about five or six wen, and you'll probably only get about ten wen. And that's after we sell all the syrup. If we don't sell all the syrup, it's still your responsibility. If you think it's okay, you can put it here for consignment and come back this afternoon to collect the payment. If not, you can sell it yourself in the market."
Yu Ying is not looking at the present, she is looking at the future.
Rather than blindly trying to find a way to sell it, it would be better to have a stable channel. So she agreed without hesitation: "Okay, if I can't sell all the goods, I'll take them back myself."
Shopkeeper Chen jokingly said, "You trust me so much, aren't you afraid that I might take advantage of your food?"
Yu Ying smiled and said, "Mr. Chen was so kind as to let me go a little further and even let me come to Shopkeeper Chen to fetch water. As Mr. Chen's son, how could I be such a black-hearted person?"
After hearing what Yu Ying said, Uncle Chen standing beside him straightened his back. It seemed that he found the words quite useful.
"And Shopkeeper Chen is a man of foresight. He simply won't covet such a small profit as mine."
Shopkeeper Chen looked at the woman's confident expression and didn't take her too seriously.
In Lingnan, there are all kinds of exiles. No matter how strange the person is, Shopkeeper Chen would not find it strange.
Anyway, it's not like she's helping out for free. If she can't sell it, it's her fault. If she can sell it, she can get a commission from it. Why not?
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