Qin San Niang naturally noticed Zhou's predicament and quickly said, "Don't tell me you don't want money. Although we have a good relationship, we can't make decisions about things at home on our own!"
I'm genuinely interested in buying. If you have a lot of vegetables at home, why not consider selling them to me for one cent per pound? If you don't want money, I won't buy them; I can always go to He County to buy them!
There's no such thing as getting something for nothing, and Qin San Niang isn't that kind of person.
One cent a pound?! That's pretty good for winter melon. Even at the county market, it's only about the same price during the New Year. If new vegetables come in a few days, the winter melons, pumpkins, and cabbages we have won't fetch a good price. Getting two pounds for one cent would be considered pretty good!
They didn't have a lot of vegetables at home; they just ate them very frugally, which is why they had saved up quite a bit. They probably thought that if they ever needed money urgently, they could sell the vegetables to tide them over. Besides, although vegetables aren't grains, they can still fill you up. Since it's something edible, not a single bit should be wasted!
Wang Guixiang was one of the first to become acquainted with Qin Sanniang. Seeing the look Qin Sanniang gave her, she understood perfectly well that she was being asked to speak first! Since the person who paid for her was being so generous, what was there for her, the one selling the goods, to hold back? Besides, they would be exchanging favors in the long run. So she readily agreed.
“Alright, since Third Sister-in-law said she wants to buy our vegetables and has paid a fair price, I’ll go back and see how much I can spare after work this afternoon.”
Ah Xing and Zhou Shi, you should go back and discuss it with your parents-in-law and husband. This is a lucrative business, much better than selling it in He County! If you don't sell, I won't be so polite!
Her interruption lightened the mood.
He Xing and Zhou both said they would go back and take another look. Zhou also felt there was no problem. Her mother-in-law was usually stingy, so if she could give money, she probably wouldn't object!
His brother-in-law's academy will start classes after the Lunar New Year, which means the whole family will have to prepare for tuition fees again!
The ten taels of silver a year for tuition was a huge burden on her family. Her mother-in-law and father-in-law both thought her brother-in-law was a good student, and even her husband thought so! But as for her, she didn't know when he would be able to graduate!
Of course, Zhou dared not say these words. As a daughter-in-law, her family was not wealthy, and she was the one her husband insisted on marrying back then. She had no say in her husband's family!
Before she had a son, things were fine; Zhou Shi didn't think there was anything wrong with supporting a scholar. But now that she had a child, she felt more and more that her brother-in-law was a burden on the family! If he were truly like that scholar He, capable of studying, that would be one thing! But she clearly saw him turn a page of his book and then not touch it for the entire afternoon; he was obviously daydreaming. Although she had never been to school, she knew that this was called being distracted, and it was wrong!
Before I could think any further, the sound of a carriage neighing outside snapped me out of my reverie.
The other women stopped chatting and quickly opened the courtyard gate to let the carriage in.
Today happened to be the day to deliver the headbands to the county town. Liao Hongying and her son, Pangya, went to town early in the morning, intending to return before noon to help with the cooking. Liu told them not to rush, as they had hired help and wouldn't need the two women.
The business of selling forehead bands is quite profitable and a steady stream of income. Liao Hongying and the others were unwilling to suddenly cut off the supply, as they would lose a lot of money every day! Even Qin Sanniang was a little reluctant, so she simply hired people to help with the cooking. She and Liu Shi were also good at cooking. Five women cooking for more than forty men was a bit busy, but they could manage!
"Godmother, elder sister, we're back!" Gu Qingshan said loudly.
Since his last conversation with Qin San Niang, Gu Qingshan, at Liu Shi's behest, became her godson, and the title was changed accordingly! He drove the carriage into the courtyard and, together with Da Wa, unloaded the carriage shaft.
"Go and rest, have a drink of water!" Liu said. "We women can unload this rice and grain!"
These children are all capable; they set off before dawn, and Liu feels sorry for them!
How could Gu Qingshan let Liu and the others do this work? After all, it was four hundred catties of grain! Although the women could carry it in, it would still be troublesome. So he quickly took over and carried the bags of rice to the kitchen one trip after another.
Qin San Niang wanted to say that she was also very strong! She didn't care about this little bit of food at all; her strength had recently skyrocketed!
When the women saw the bags of grain being carried in, their mouths dropped open in astonishment. "Are they all rice?"
Looking back, they saw that Qin Sanniang was carrying a large piece of meat, weighing more than 20 jin! Wang Guixiang and He Xing were a little better off, since they had worked for Qin Sanniang before and knew about her family's situation. However, it was rare to see someone being paid to work and still being fed so well!
The two quickly regained their composure and helped pack up their things.
Rice and grains should be stored in cupboards or drawers, otherwise they will easily get moldy!
Zhou was still in a daze. She thought that her family was doing well. Although they couldn't eat meat every day, they could have meat one or two days a month. Even though she wasn't favored by her mother-in-law, she could still eat some minced meat occasionally. Compared to the families in Shiligou who couldn't even get enough to eat, the village head's family was considered wealthy!
But compared to Qin San Niang's family, they're nothing! They can easily give dozens of kilograms of meat! And it's all marbled with fat and lean, it'll definitely taste amazing! No wonder even someone as arrogant as my mother-in-law is so polite to Aunt Liu, and last night she even specifically told her to be quick-witted while working so as not to offend anyone!
Seeing her lost in thought, He Xing quickly tugged at her sleeve... It's getting late, and there's still so much work to do! What are you daydreaming about, my dear daughter-in-law!
Zhou smiled gratefully at her, "I was a little stunned to see so much meat and grain!"
Wang Guixiang and He Xing were surprised by her straightforwardness, and they both felt a bit more favorably disposed towards her. They hadn't expected that the village head's daughter-in-law wasn't cold at all, but rather easy to approach; she just didn't usually go out much.
Wang Guixiang responded with a smile, saying that there was so much rice and grain, and that Qin Sanniang was very generous. She was lucky to be able to work here, and this meal alone was worth it!
"Third Aunt, Auntie, what dishes are we making for lunch today? Should we marinate this meat?" Wang Guixiang asked, holding up a piece of meat.
"This piece of meat was made at noon today. We'll marinate the rest and make a stew of marinated meat and winter melon tomorrow!" Qin San Niang replied. This piece of meat weighed only ten jin (about 5 kg). Cut it into pieces half a finger thick and the size of a palm, we can make at least forty pieces, which is good enough to ensure that everyone has one piece! If we cut it any more, it won't be enough!
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