Chapter 75 Hoping he earns an ounce a day
Bao Beiyuan's courtyard is located in the southwest of the county town.
The county school was located in the northeast corner of the county seat.
Ye Lijiang came out of the county school, and the mule cart swayed and bumped all the way. When he arrived at Bao Beiyuan's place, Bao Beiyuan was having lunch.
Hearing Jiang Ji knocking on the door, he hurriedly came out of the kitchen to open it.
Upon opening the courtyard gate, he saw that besides Jiang Ji, Ye Li, Jiang Mai, and Jiang Ya were all there. After his initial surprise, he quickly invited them in: "Perfect timing, the drinks are still piping hot, let me get you some."
Jiang Ji led the mule cart into the yard and asked, "Are you eating?"
His lips were greasy.
"Yes, I bought fried dough sticks from the neighbor in front."
Bao Beiyuan explained.
He always ate simply: a large fried pancake wrapped with shredded pickled vegetables, and a bowl of drink, and that was all he needed.
But precisely because of this, now that Jiang Jiye has brought two little ones, he can only serve them drinks.
"What a coincidence! We just bought two braised chickens and some steamed buns on the way here. Let's eat together."
Ye Li said with a smile.
Hearing this, Bao Beiyuan felt embarrassed. How could he let Li bring his own lunch?
He stopped and looked at Ye Li: "There's a noodle shop nearby that's pretty good. Shall we go out for some noodle soup?"
"I bought several baskets of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), so I don't need to go out to eat."
Ye Li shook her head.
"That's right, don't be so polite, we're not strangers."
Jiang Ji parked the mule cart.
He lifted a basket off the top, which contained braised chicken and steamed buns.
There's also a jar of walnut and sesame powder.
Actually, he and Ye Li originally planned to go to the county school to register this afternoon.
But they decided last night to buy some leisure books, so they changed their plans and went to report this morning.
They hadn't seen Bao Beiyuan for almost a month, so Ye Li used half of the walnut and sesame powder from yesterday to make a special trip to see him today.
Jiang Mai jumped off the mule cart, looked up at it with a smile, and said, "Brother Bao, Ya Ge'er and I have never been here before. Let's eat at your house."
Jiang Ya nodded and said, "Brother Bao, that braised chicken smells amazing, it must be delicious!"
Upon hearing this, Bao Beiyuan couldn't help but laugh. He pointed to the kitchen and said, "Alright, let's go to the kitchen then."
Inside the kitchen, the goat's milk was still in the large iron pot.
He served out four bowls.
Then they added the condiments to each bowl one by one.
The toppings are the same as before: sweet red beans, rice mochi, and mini glutinous rice balls.
As the weather gets colder, people prefer to drink thick soups and broths, so he no longer makes jasmine green tea and only sells soy milk rice mochi.
Ye Li placed the braised chicken and steamed buns on the dining table.
The braised chicken has been chopped.
The steamed buns, wrapped in oil paper and a cotton-padded jacket, were still warm as we walked.
However, upon seeing Bao Beiyuan's lunch on the table, he couldn't help but say, "You should at least add an egg."
It's one thing if there are no vegetables.
It doesn't even contain protein—although the soy milk rice mochi is all-natural and additive-free, the addition of tea leaves turns it into milk tea, and the protein content is automatically ignored.
Bao Beiyuan said with a smile, "I'm just in a hurry to set up my stall. I'll eat something better tonight."
Ye Li still looked disapproving upon hearing this.
A sixteen-year-old living alone with no one to help him cook, he naturally just makes do with whatever he can.
He is currently observing mourning for his parents and cannot get married.
But after healing alone for more than half a year, the most painful part should have passed.
So Ye Li suggested, "Why don't you find someone to share the apartment with?"
"No need, I'm fine on my own."
As Bao Beiyuan spoke, he placed the drink on the dining table: "Drink it quickly, it will warm you up."
Jiang Ya didn't stand on ceremony. He smiled and said thank you, Brother Bao, before picking up his spoon and drinking.
He's too lazy to make soy milk rice mochi, so he hasn't made it in a long time.
He really wanted this drink.
The slightly hot but sweet drink flowed down my throat; the taste was wonderful.
He looked at Bao Beiyuan with satisfaction: "Delicious!"
Bao Beiyuan couldn't help but laugh: "Then I'll have another bowl later."
"No need, I want steamed buns and braised chicken!"
Jiang Ya shook her head.
He had never tried xiaolongbao before. These xiaolongbao were not only round and plump, but their outer skin was also soaked in oil. They must be especially delicious!
Braised chicken is troublesome to make, and Brother Li hasn't made it in a long time.
He wants to eat.
well.
He only has one belly.
distressed.
Bao Beiyuan was amused by Jiang Ya's little expression, and when he handed Jiang Ya chopsticks, he couldn't help but rub his little head.
Seeing this, Ye Li felt even more strongly that he needed to interact with more people.
But Jiang Ya and Jiang Mai live in the countryside and can't come over every day.
Therefore, this matter needs to be considered carefully.
Ye Li didn't say anything more and picked up her chopsticks to eat.
Jiang Ji also picked up his chopsticks to eat. He talked about the county school, and Bao Beiyuan would ask a few questions from time to time. The dinner table was quite lively.
Before they had finished their meal, the older woman Bao Beiyuan had hired arrived.
Hearing the aunt calling him from the doorway, Bao Beiyuan couldn't help but slap his forehead: "I forgot something!"
As he walked out, he said, "Aunt Zhou's family sells fried dough cakes. She saw that Brother Sheng's tofu puffs were selling well, so she wanted to buy some!"
He said this as he left the kitchen.
Standing at the kitchen door, he called out to the courtyard gate, "Auntie, please come in first. I haven't finished lunch yet."
Hearing the noise, Aunt Zhou pushed open the door and entered the courtyard.
The method of making the drink was a secret, and she always entered the room only after obtaining Bao Beiyuan's permission.
When Bao Beiyuan saw her, he smiled and said, "Auntie, you've come at the right time. Sit down and have some steamed buns."
"Moreover, we were just talking about Brother Li yesterday, and he's already here."
Aunt Zhou had already spotted the mule cart in the yard, and upon hearing Bao Beiyuan's words, she was overjoyed: "What a coincidence!"
She hurried toward the kitchen.
Her home was on the street in front of this small courtyard, and she made a living selling fried dough cakes.
After frying the dough cakes in the morning, she and her husband kept a small portion at home to sell to their neighbors.
Most of them were carried on her husband's back as he went from street to street, hawking his wares.
Bao Beiyuan goes to the cold jelly shop every day, and in the past few days, she has noticed that the cold jelly shop has added a new food item:
Spicy tofu puffs.
It also contains radish chunks and cabbage leaves.
She observed for a few days and found that every time she went there, only the bottom of the pot of red oil tofu puffs was left. So when she returned yesterday after selling the starter, she asked Bao Beiyuan about the tofu puffs.
Gong Lisheng bought some steamed buns to sell alongside tofu puffs.
Her family originally sold fried dough cakes!
Her family's fried dough cakes are all puffed up when they're fresh out of the fryer, and they're fragrant and chewy, making them very delicious.
But the profit margin for this product is low, so it's something that most people can afford to make.
Therefore, she still has to go out and do odd jobs.
Now that such an opportunity has presented itself, she naturally wants to seize it.
Her family is more suited to selling spicy tofu puffs.
I never expected that we would meet the person in question today, even though we were just talking about it yesterday!
She entered the kitchen with eager eyes, and upon seeing Ye Li, she quickly said with a smile, "Oh my, Xiao Yuan, you didn't say your brother Li was so handsome! Look at his fair complexion and his figure, anyone who didn't know better would think he was some nobleman's husband."
"...Hello, Auntie, please sit down and have something to eat."
Ye Li smiled and invited her to sit down.
"No need, no need, I ate at home before coming. You guys take your time, no rush."
Aunt Zhou quickly waved her hand.
Ye Li offered several more times, but seeing that she still refused, he sat down again and started talking to her about the tofu puffs.
He asked Aunt Zhou how many kilograms she planned to buy.
"Let me take five jin first, just to test the waters."
Aunt Zhou said.
This thing is expensive.
Moreover, it can be sold together with radishes and cabbage.
She doesn't need to buy too much at once.
“Okay.” Ye Li nodded.
"Then how about you go to the cold jelly shop to pick up your order every afternoon, Auntie? And while you're at it, have Sister Cuihua teach you how to make red oil tofu puffs."
Ye Lidao.
It's quite a distance from here to the jelly shop, and it's only five jin (2.5 kg), so it's not worth Jiang Tong going all that way.
"Okay, let's do it this way."
Aunt Zhou nodded with a smile.
Everything went smoothly!
If I get the tofu puffs tomorrow, I can sell them the day after.
The family's income will increase again.
Aunt Zhou was happy, and Ye Li was also pleased.
This means an extra twenty coins in income every day.
Lunch was finished quickly.
It's time for Bao Beiyuan to set up his stall.
Ye Lijiang should take the two little ones out for a stroll.
The couple said goodbye to Bao Beiyuan and headed straight for the bookstore.
The "leisure books" in bookstores refer to books unrelated to the imperial examinations, such as vernacular novels and geographical travelogues.
Ye Li flipped through them one by one, and to be honest, he wasn't interested in any of them.
Those vernacular novels can't compare to the online novels he read in his previous life.
Not to mention that even a single book costs at least several hundred coins!
But thinking about how boring the night would be, he eventually bought a travelogue to pass the time.
In addition, he bought the cheapest writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones so that he, Jiang Mai, and Jiang Ya could practice calligraphy.
Anyway, the stuff is cheap, so I can practice as much as I want without worrying about wasting any.
After leaving the bookstore, they went to the pastry shop.
This time, he didn't ask Jiang Ya to pay. He bought two jin of pumpkin cakes and two jin of mung bean cakes, and then the family of four headed to the grain store.
He had given away too much walnut powder, so he had to make some more for Jiang Ji.
In addition, Liu Yi and Tang Yu prepared a padded jacket and shoes for him, but he couldn't accept walnut powder as a return gift, so he planned to make some snacks instead.
By the time the shopping spree was finished, it was already late afternoon.
Winter days are short and dark, and today was another overcast day. By the time Jiang Ji was taken back to the county school, it was almost dark.
Jiang Dahe was waiting at the entrance of the county school.
Jiang Ji greeted him in the morning, telling him to go home with Ye Li and the two little ones.
Both Ye Li and Jiang Ji remained quite calm during this parting.
Since they have to deliver goods every day anyway, as long as Ye Li is willing, the two of them can see each other every day.
Therefore, standing at the entrance of the county school, Jiang Ji simply patted Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya's little heads and then urged them to go home.
Ye Li waved to him, led the mule cart, and followed behind Jiang Dahe, quickly disappearing into the night.
Jiang Ji withdrew his gaze, turned around, and entered the county school.
As a newly enrolled student, he will officially begin classes tomorrow.
Therefore, he went to the kitchen to eat first, and then returned to his dormitory.
The dormitory was much better than the private school. Only two people lived in each room, and the kang (heated brick bed) was separate.
Anyone who wants to heat the kang (a traditional heated bed) can simply pay for firewood.
Even more coincidentally, the student who shared a dormitory with Jiang Ji was the same student surnamed Hou who had accompanied him to the provincial examination.
The two shared a room while traveling to take the exam.
Hou Linsheng was old and had children. He lived at home year-round, so his double room was actually a single room, which was quite quiet.
After a simple dinner, he returned to his dormitory and lit the candles that Ye Li had bought a few days earlier when he went to the county town to deliver goods—candles were brighter than oil lamps, so they wouldn't strain his eyes when he studied late into the night.
Of course, Ye Li didn't approve of him reading at night, saying it would make him nearsighted.
Despite her words, Ye Li still bought him candles.
Thinking of this, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. He stared at the candle for a while before picking up the wooden basin, preparing to wash and wipe it.
As he worked, his thoughts drifted to the wild jujube slope.
By now, Ye Li must have already eaten, right?
Ye Li had indeed already eaten dinner.
He put down the bowl and chopsticks and went to the bathroom to boil water for washing up.
With Jiang Ji away, he became the one who had to worry.
After the water was boiled, he told Jiang Mai, Jiang Ya, and Uncle Ye to wash up. He checked around to make sure the gate was locked and the pigs and chickens were safe before he went to wash up himself.
Once on the kang (heated brick bed), the overly quiet bedroom made the kang seem even more spacious.
Although the bed is still warm and cozy, there is no longer a warm, comforting chest.
He lay sprawled in bed, staring blankly at the wall for a while, then yawned. He was a little sleepy after running around all day.
This drowsiness is good, it saves him from being unable to sleep because his mind is full of Jiang Ji.
He blew out the oil lamp, wrapped himself tightly in the quilt, and let sleepiness wash over him.
sleep!
When I woke up, the room was pitch black, accompanied by the silence that preceded my sleep.
He didn't know whether the rooster had crowed or not.
For the past month, with Jiang Ji at home, the task of opening the door for Jiang Dahe wasn't his responsibility, so he let himself sleep wherever he wanted.
Furthermore, since he didn't have a watch, he really didn't know what time it was.
The kang (heated brick bed) was no longer warm, but the quilt was warm, so he lay there without moving.
After a while, he heard faint voices coming from behind the house.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Since work has already started, it must have been his father who opened the door.
Then let him lie down.
He reached out his arm and touched the spot where Jiang Ji had been lying.
No one was around all night, and the kang (heated brick bed) had lost its heat, so that spot was naturally freezing cold.
But he didn't pull his arm back.
He placed his hand on the rough cotton sheet and stroked it back and forth a few times until drowsiness came over him again, then he turned over and continued to sleep.
When I woke up again, it was still dark, but the voices behind the house were much louder.
Upon hearing Jiang Liu's voice, he stopped dawdling.
Although I feel empty inside, life must go on.
After leaving the house, he went straight to the shed without washing up.
Jiang Liu, Uncle Ye, and Jiang Yu are filtering soybean residue.
Jiang Dahe and Jiang Tong are grinding soybeans.
When Father Ye saw him, he said, "Go wash your hands. There's hot water on the stove. Come help me when you're done. I'll go cook."
Ye Li rubbed her eyes and pointed at Jiang Yu, saying, "Why is Brother Yu here too?"
Jiang Liu explained with a smile, "Brother Ji went to study, and we were short one person to filter the soybean residue this morning. I was afraid we wouldn't be able to handle it, so I called Brother Yu over."
Jiang Yu chuckled and said, "Brother Li, don't give me extra money. I have nothing to do at home anyway."
“Exactly, he’s just sitting at home doing nothing anyway,” Jiang Dahe added.
Ye Li: "..."
The current production of tofu puffs has reached 245 jin (approximately 122.5 kg).
One pound of tofu yields half a pound of tofu puffs, so they need to make 490 pounds of tofu every day.
With so much tofu, it will take quite a while just to filter out the soybean pulp.
The time spent frying tofu puffs in the afternoon was also extended, and they had to start frying before lunch.
Winter days are short and it gets dark early, so the earlier the delivery time, the better.
Nowadays, everyone's workload has increased; to be precise, their workload has almost doubled.
With the workload doubled, the wages should naturally be increased.
But most people would not agree.
So he smiled and said, "I'll give everyone bonuses at the end of next month."
Two hundred and forty-five catties of tofu puffs, minus thirty catties of leaf taels, leave two hundred and fifteen catties.
One jin earns five and seven fen, so two hundred and fifteen jin can earn one thousand two hundred and twenty-five fen and five fen.
Adding the eighty-one cash from earning two taels of silver, he could earn a total of one thousand three hundred and sixty-six cash and five li.
After deducting the wages of 285 coins, he could earn 1,021.5 coins a day.
In other words, he could earn one or two taels of silver a day!
Not counting the income from preserved eggs and drinks, he could earn a thousand coins a day just from this small workshop!
Since our own family members have put in so much effort, how can we not give them a bonus?
Must send!
But Jiang Dahe immediately shook his head after hearing his words: "No need, no need, the wages you've given me are already quite good."
"Brother Li, you should go wash your hands and face."
Jiang Liu smiled and changed the subject.
Upon hearing this, Ye Li did not insist and said with a smile, "Okay, I'll come help after I've washed."
He'll just send it when the time comes.
The warm water chased away his drowsiness, and after washing his face, he felt much more refreshed.
It's still cloudy today.
His hands turned bright red from the frozen liquid while filtering the soybean pulp.
After finishing his chores and having breakfast, the two little ones, Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya, went back to their room to recite their lessons, and he also went back to his room.
He took out some butter and moisturized his hands, then pulled out the travelogue he had bought yesterday, intending to glance at it before making some desserts.
The snacks I bought yesterday are for my family's daily meals.
He planned to make some cookies for Liu Yi and Tang Yu.
Cookies are great. Add more eggs and less sugar, and you get both protein and carbohydrates, making them perfect as a snack.
Jiang Ji can also eat it.
However, after flipping through only a few pages, he changed his mind.
Without Jiang Ji by my side, these traditional vertical-script books from ancient times are so easy to make me sleepy.
Even if it were written entirely in vernacular Chinese, he couldn't get into it.
So he closed the book and prepared to go to the kitchen to make cookies.
However, as soon as he stepped out of the house, he saw a carriage parked at the door.
He exclaimed "Eh!" and walked towards the door.
After walking a few steps, Boss Yue, wearing a fox fur coat, appeared at the entrance of the courtyard.
Upon seeing Ye Li, Boss Yue immediately beamed with joy: "Husband Ye! It's been a long time! How have you been?"
Ye Li smiled when she saw this: "I'm fine. Come in quickly, are you cold? I'll go start a fire."
He estimated that Boss Yue wouldn't be able to come until the end of the month. The preserved egg and lean pork porridge in the county town was selling well, and the one in the prefectural city must be doing well too.
Moreover, the prefectural city only has Boss Yue's business, which is a kind of monopoly.
But to his surprise, Boss Yue arrived even faster than he had anticipated!
When Boss Yue left last time, his house was only half-built. All told, only about half a month had passed.
If you include the expenses incurred on the way, then Mr. Yue only sold this porridge for less than half a month.
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