Chapter 92 Peng Ximing's Job Application for Taro Paste
"County school?"
Yu Cai was surprised, then shook her head: "He's already a scholar, why would he come to work as a shop assistant?"
"However, you can ask the private school."
The students over there aren't pretentious.
"Um……"
Yu Cai really doesn't care for scholars.
"So how much are you planning to pay?"
Ye Li asked.
"Now the shop assistants earn 1,400 coins a month, and meals are provided."
"What we ate was the leftovers that were served to the diners but which they didn't finish—a stew served with cornbread."
"As for temporary workers, they only come at noon and in the evening, and it's only an hour's work. They earn about 500 coins a month, and meals are provided."
Yu Cai explained.
"The wages are high! And the food is good too."
Ye Li was slightly surprised; a regular worker earned forty-six coins a day.
Although Yu Cai required the waiters to be literate, this literacy only referred to recognizing the characters on the menu.
Jiangmai can now recognize almost all of them.
For this level of income, earning forty-six coins a day and eating well, this boss, Yu Cai, is truly kind and benevolent.
As for temporary workers, they could earn 500 coins for working for an hour at noon or in the evening, and meals were provided. He was sure that if Peng Xiucai knew this, he would definitely apply for the job.
Since Yu Cai didn't plan to recruit workers at the county school, he would tell Jiang Ji.
Having made up his mind, he smiled and said, "Brother Cai, your offer is too generous. If I weren't worried, Brother Ya would definitely be happy to come and be a child laborer."
“He works in the workshop now, only squeezing soybean dregs every day, and he only gets ten coins a day.”
Jiang Ya was slowly cracking open a handful of sunflower seeds when she heard this and couldn't help but shake her head: "Brother Li, I don't recognize all the words on the menu."
Although he was very tempted.
But he can't do this job.
Yu Cai laughed and said, "Ya Ya, once you can recognize them all, will you come work for your brother?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ya rolled her big eyes twice and nodded, saying, "If Brother Li buys a house in the county town, and we move there, then I'd be willing to come."
If you live in the county town, you can't work in the workshop.
He won't make any money!
He would be very happy if his brother Cai wanted him.
"Little guy, you're really thinking ahead. When you get home, you'd better study hard to learn to read."
Yu Cai smiled.
"good!"
Jiang Ya nodded emphatically.
Although he did not take the imperial examinations, literacy is still important today.
He's been slacking off lately.
I'll have to catch up when I get home.
Seeing this, Ye Li also teased the little guy a few times.
He had no demands on Jiang Ya, but since the little guy wanted to improve, he naturally wanted to encourage him.
However, he was preoccupied with sending a message to Jiang Ji.
Besides, there's also a basket of taro.
Although he had previously considered launching a new drink, he was hampered by limited ingredients and his focus was mostly on Jiang Ji, so he had no idea how to proceed.
But who knew that taro could grow in Beiyang County!
This is such a pleasant surprise.
Although this taro is just a regular small taro, and he doesn't have purple sweet potato or butter, he can still make taro paste—just add some condensed milk.
Making condensed milk is extremely simple: pour fresh cow's milk or goat's milk into a pot, add sugar, and boil off the water. What's left is condensed milk.
Goat milk can be bought in the village.
As for milk, there's none in the village, and the price is too high, so he doesn't plan to use milk to make condensed milk.
Because taro isn't cheap either.
Taro costs three coins per kilogram in its place of origin. In autumn, it's better because it can be transported by water, and a boat can carry tens of thousands of kilograms.
In winter, however, the only way to transport them is by land to Beiyang County, where they cost ten coins per pound!
Taro is already so expensive; if we use expensive milk on top of that, this drink won't sell well.
Ye Liyue was very grateful for the taro paste, and since he hadn't tasted it in a long time, he sat for a while longer. Then, he excused himself, saying he had to go to the county school to find Jiang Ji, and took his leave with Jiang Ya and Ye Adie.
His reason made Yu Cai secretly envious.
They have such a good relationship! If we couldn't see each other at noon, we have to make up for it in the evening.
I wonder if he has the good fortune to find such a wonderful match.
He doesn't ask for a lifetime; a moment is enough.
On the other side, Ye Li came out of the semi-recluse residence and went to the sugar shop to buy some cane sugar.
There's not much sugar left at home.
On his way to the county school, he saw a vendor selling braised food by the roadside and stopped his oxcart.
The small amount of shredded meat, minced meat, and sliced meat from small restaurants outside cannot provide much nutrition.
Jiang Ji needs to use his brain a lot to study, so he needs to eat more meat.
Of course, family members should eat too.
He bought two braised chickens.
Father Ye felt a pang of heartache upon seeing this.
The three waited for a while at the entrance of the county school, until it got dark.
The somber bell rang, signaling the end of classes at the county school.
Ye Lituo went in to find Jiang Ji, and Jiang Ji came out quickly.
He was quite surprised to see Ye Li, Jiang Ya, and Ye Adie.
Ye Li said yesterday that she was going to Banxianju today and wouldn't be coming over.
Why are you here at this hour?
Ye Li handed him a braised chicken: "I'm bringing you a braised chicken."
Jiang Ya also exclaimed loudly, "The braised chicken smells so good! Big brother, have some if you're hungry tonight."
Jiang Ji took the braised chicken and patted his little head: "Okay."
After the two brothers exchanged a few words, Ye Li pulled Jiang Ji aside and quietly explained his purpose.
This matter is still far from being settled, and for the sake of Yu Cai's reputation, Jiang Ya and Father Ye must not find out.
But after hearing his words, Jiang Ji couldn't help but feel helpless: "You came all this way just for this?"
"Of course not. I came all this way just to ease your lovesickness."
Ye Li said with a smile.
Jiang Ji: "..."
He couldn't help but smile.
Unfortunately, with people coming and going at the entrance, he couldn't hold Ye Li in his arms and kiss her.
He sighed and explained, "I mean it's too late, it's already dark. I'm worried about you old folks and young children."
"It's urgent, isn't it? Tomorrow, Brother Cai will send people to the private school to recruit workers. With such generous conditions, he'll definitely be able to recruit enough people in no time."
He only needs four people.
Ye Li held up four fingers and shook them.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ji thought for a moment and said, "But he only recruits workers at private schools and doesn't consider the county school. If Scholar Peng goes there, won't he realize your intention to match them up?"
"I didn't act as a matchmaker."
Ye Li immediately shook her head: "You learned about this from our casual conversation, thought that Scholar Peng was suitable, and since you were both entering the county school on the same day, you told Scholar Peng about it."
"Do you understand?"
"……clear."
Jiang Ji nodded.
But now it was Ye Li's turn to frown: "What's the truth about Peng Xiucai? If he's not a good person, then don't let him go and hurt Brother Cai's eyes."
Yu Cai's recruitment was so sudden that Jiang Ji hadn't had a chance to find out what kind of person Peng Xiucai was.
"Although I didn't have much contact with him, I didn't hear anything bad about him."
Jiang Jidao.
"That's good."
Ye Li was relieved.
"To avoid suspicion, I won't come to the county town tomorrow. I saw a new food today called taro. Brother Cai gave me a basket of it. I'll study it tomorrow. It's quite delicious."
Jiang Ji listened and nodded slightly.
Ye Li didn't arrive until the day after tomorrow.
Sigh, he and Ye Li have sacrificed a lot for Manager Yu's marriage.
The next day, Ye Li ate breakfast and then rolled up her sleeves to steam taro paste.
Without gloves, to prevent his hands from itching, he poured the taro into a basin, used a pot scrubber to brush off the surface dirt, then poured it into an iron pot over the stove, added water, and started cooking.
Once the taro is cooked, you can touch it freely without feeling itchy.
Jiang Ya was put in charge of tending the fire, while he went to Aunt Qiu Mei's house to buy goat milk.
A ewe's lactation period can last for more than six months, so he knows exactly which family in the village has goat milk.
Aunt Qiumei happened to be home. Upon learning his purpose, she milked a clay pot of goat milk for him without charging him a single penny.
He carried the goat's milk home and went straight to the kitchen to make condensed milk.
This job doesn't require much skill. First, remove the goat's milk from its gamey smell, then set aside a small bowl to make taro paste. Add sugar to the rest and start cooking.
The entire process requires low heat and constant stirring.
He spent most of the hour making only one bowl of condensed milk from a clay pot of sheep's milk.
During this time, Jiang Ya also cooked the taro.
The little guy was very curious about condensed milk, so Ye Li scooped a spoonful for him.
This concentrated goat milk with added sugar is incredibly fragrant and sweet. He held the spoon and, like a kitten, slowly licked it in small sips.
Next, Ye Li was going to make taro paste, and he stood aside, watching and tasting the delicious condensed milk.
Making taro paste is also extremely simple: peel the taro and put it into a ceramic bowl.
After steaming, the taro is dry, so you need to add goat milk to make it moist.
The level of humidity depends entirely on personal preference.
He poured the small bowl of goat milk he had just scooped into a basin, then added half a bowl of condensed milk to enhance the milky aroma. Fearing it wasn't sweet enough, he added some sugar to the basin as well.
Next, you can pick up the rolling pin and start pounding.
The process wasn't tiring. After Jiang Ya finished licking the condensed milk, she took the rolling pin with her little hands and helped to pound it for a while.
With the combined efforts of the two, the taro paste was ready in just 15 minutes.
Without the addition of purple sweet potato for color, the final product is beige.
But it still looks quite appetizing.
Ye Li took out chopsticks from the chopstick holder, picked up a chopstick, and brought it to her mouth.
A faint aroma of milk and taro lingered around his nose. The familiar scent pleased him greatly. He opened his mouth and put the taro paste into his mouth.
The moment his tongue touched the taro paste, its unique delicate and soft texture made him squint his eyes.
It's similar to the taro paste he ate in his previous life.
But it's less sweet.
tasty!
"Brother Li, Brother Li, is it delicious?"
Jiang Ya looked up at him with her little face full of curiosity.
Ye Li looked down when she heard this, and seeing the longing on his little face, she smiled and put a piece of food on his plate: "Try it."
The little guy immediately opened his mouth wide and swallowed the whole lump of taro paste in one gulp.
Then his big eyes suddenly widened, "So soft!"
It was softer than any of the pastries he had eaten before.
It's somewhat similar to rice mochi.
But the taste is different; it's fragrant and quite unique.
He mumbled indistinctly, "Thick ruler!"
Li Ge is amazing!
With Jiang Ya's support, Ye Li was even more satisfied.
good.
It was successful on the first try.
The new drink is here!
However, we can use this taro paste to make some taro cakes today, and send some to Jiang Ji tomorrow so that he can try them.
Of course, there's also Yu Cai.
I wonder if Scholar Peng went for the job interview today.
Peng Ximing certainly wouldn't miss such an opportunity.
He's having a hard time finding work!
Isn't it just being a shop assistant?
Just give me the money!
Moreover, Jiang Ji said that the owner was very kind and wouldn't order the employees around. He even provided food!
They were eating the leftover ingredients from the other diners!
Tsk tsk, two roasted sweet potatoes are enough to comfort his empty stomach and hopeless future, let alone the ingredients in the hot pot.
He'll go!
However, Jiang Ji also made it clear that the employer was planning to recruit workers from several private schools in the county town and would not come to the county school, so he had to go there himself to recommend himself.
It's best to go around noon.
That's no problem at all.
Therefore, after school at noon, he went straight to Banxianju.
Actually, he really hoped that Jiang Ji could introduce him to someone.
Jiang Ji knows Manager Yu. If Jiang Ji is willing to ask, there's a 99% chance he'll stay!
But he wasn't familiar with Jiang Ji, so how could he trouble Jiang Ji to go with him?
Jiang Jiken telling him this news was already a great help to him.
He will surely remember this kindness.
As for the rest, we'll have to rely on luck.
So he walked and ran, arriving at the back door of Banxianju during its busiest time.
The back door was tightly closed.
Knock on the door.
A moment later, the door opened, and a young man who looked like a shop assistant stood in the doorway: "What can I do for you?"
Peng Ximing quickly smiled and said, "Young man, I heard that your shop is recruiting employees. Is that true?"
The man nodded: "Yes, there is such a thing. Are you here to apply? Can you read?"
"I am literate. I was a student in the class two years ago and am now studying at the county school."
Peng Ximing explained.
"A student?!"
The waiter was taken aback and couldn't help but glance him up and down.
Seeing the faded old cotton robe he was wearing, the shop assistant knew what was going on, but was still somewhat surprised.
Even though his family was poor, he had never seen a scholar work as a shop assistant.
That's really going all out!
"Please wait a moment, sir. I will go and inform Steward Xing. I'll be right back."
After saying this, the man turned and went back to the courtyard.
Soon after, Yu Cai, who was sitting in the house keeping accounts, learned that a scholar studying at the county school had come to his door to accept the invitation.
He was also taken aback. How could someone be so willing to lower themselves like that?
Moreover, he only sent people to the private school to promote recruitment in the morning, he didn't go to the county school.
However, the fact that the scholar was forced to swallow his pride and take this job to make a living shows that his family was in dire straits.
Without much hesitation, he went out with the help of Granny Wang and met the scholar in the accounting room in the courtyard where various miscellaneous tasks were handled.
He was sitting.
The scholar stood there.
Although the scholar's clothes were worn out, he stood tall and his eyes were clear.
He was clean from head to toe.
Although it was a job interview, he remained neither humble nor arrogant.
Yu Cai pointed to the stool beside him and said, "Please sit down, sir. May I ask your honorable name?"
Peng Ximing lifted his robe and sat down, saying, "My surname is Peng. You can call me Scholar Peng, shopkeeper."
"I wonder where Peng Xiucai learned that my shop is hiring?" Yu Cai asked again.
Peng Ximing explained, "It was Jiang Ji, a classmate from the county school and a newly appointed student this year, who told me about this. His husband knows the shopkeeper."
He originally intended to address him as Brother Jiang.
However, he was not familiar with Jiang Ji, so he addressed him by his first name.
Jiang Ji?
Yu Cai couldn't help but think of Ye Li's trip to the county school yesterday.
"Is Peng Xiucai acquainted with Jiang Ji?" he continued to ask.
"Jiang Jitong and I entered school on the same day and were in the same class, but in the past two months, I have been busy copying books after class and have not communicated with him much."
Peng Ximing said honestly.
Jiang Jiren was handsome and kind-hearted. Seeing that he was living a miserable life, he kindly helped him out.
Upon hearing this, Yu Cai understood.
It must have been that Ye Li inadvertently mentioned the recruitment of workers at Banxianju to Jiang Ji, and Jiang Ji, seeing that this scholar Peng was poor, told him about it.
Since Jiang Ji recommended him, he would definitely accept the offer.
Besides, judging from Peng Xiucai's attire, he might as well lend a hand.
As for whether Peng Xiucai can really lower himself to do this lowly job, we'll see after we try.
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