Chapter Fifteen: Satisfaction
After packing their things, Zhang Liuji pushed the wheelbarrow, loaded with empty pottery jars and tools, while Zhang Liuli carried the money box. The two set off on their journey home. As they passed the bustling dock south of town, Zhang Liuli slowed down again, his gaze becoming unusually focused.
This is the time when the laborers finish their work or take a short break.
Along the wide riverbank, the shouts of loading and unloading cargo ships, the scraping of iron chains, and the heavy footsteps mingled together.
Groups of burly men in short jackets with their shirts open, squatting or sitting, held large, rough porcelain bowls and wolfed down piping hot soup noodles and ate cold cornbread soaked in soup with pickled vegetables.
Most of them had dark skin, were drenched in sweat, and had a look of exhaustion and satisfaction on their faces. They had simple requirements for food.
Hot, cheap, filling, and preferably with some oil and meat.
As for what the ingredients are or whether they are refined, that's not a consideration at all.
Zhang observed the simple soup stalls silently.
Plain noodles in clear broth cost three coins, and the cheapest hard flatbread cost one coin each.
The laborers ate until they were covered in sweat, just to quickly replenish their strength.
She remembered the tripe and lung soup her sister-in-law had taught her to make.
The soup is milky white, made by slow-cooking cleaned pig stomach and lungs with white radish or cabbage stalks. The soup is rich and flavorful, with a hint of the pungent aroma of dogwood, warming and nourishing.
If you set up a small stall here, selling a bowl for one coin, or a large bowl for two coins, plus some dried goods, you'd definitely sell it all.
Moreover, the docks are crowded with people and have a large demand, so there is relatively less competition, unlike Xishikou where people are very particular about the quality of ingredients.
A clear idea took shape in her mind.
"Brother Liu Ji."
Zhang Liuyi stopped and pointed at the laborers at the dock and the steaming soup stalls, his eyes shining.
"Look over there."
Zhang Liuji looked in that direction, puzzled.
"The dock? What happened?"
“I was thinking,”
"We won't be selling our tripe and lung soup here at the West Market next time."
"Huh? Where can I buy it? Isn't braised offal selling quite well at the West Market? Where can I buy tripe and lung soup?" Zhang Liuji was even more confused.
“Braised offal is a cold dish, so it keeps well and is suitable for sale in the West Market. But tripe and lung soup is different,” Zhang Yili analyzed.
"Soup is best enjoyed hot. The docks are just the right place. Look at these laborers, all they want is a hot, filling bowl of soup with a bit of meat and oil. Our tripe and lung soup, when cooked until the tripe and lungs are tender and mushy, and the radishes and cabbage have absorbed all the oil, a big bowl of it piping hot is definitely better than plain noodles in watery broth. The cost is also low, we can sell it for one or two coins a bowl, or a big bowl with some dried ingredients, making a small profit but selling it quickly, we're sure to make a profit."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the makeshift stalls at the dock, and continued.
"However, not yet. We need to save up some capital first, to buy a set of equipment specifically for making soup, serving soup, and keeping it warm, as well as a shed to shelter us from the wind and rain. Once our braised offal business is more stable and we've saved up more copper coins, we'll set up this soup stall. I've already picked out a location; it's not far from here, close to where the laborers finish their work."
Zhang Liuji listened to his sister's plan and was stunned for a while before suddenly slapping his thigh, his face full of admiration.
“Hey, Yi-jie. You’re quick-witted and shrewd. The only downside of this dock is the crowds. Setting up a soup stall here is perfect. It’s a hundred times better than arguing with those picky people in town. I may not have any other skills, but I’m strong enough. If you need me to set up the stall, fetch water, chop wood, or run errands, I’ll take care of it.”
Zhang Yili smiled.
Zhang Liuyi couldn't help but laugh when he saw his cousin's eager expression.
"Of course, Brother Liu Ji! With you helping me out, I won't have to listen to my uncle nagging me at home about not doing carpentry!"
Her tone was sarcastic.
Zhang Liuji, having his thoughts exposed, chuckled twice without arguing, and simply pushed the wheelbarrow more steadily.
Back in Zhang Dahe's courtyard.
The festive atmosphere of the New Year celebrations had not yet dissipated, and the air was still filled with the faint smell of firecracker smoke and the warm aroma of stewing meat from the kitchen.
Zhang Dashan went out early in the morning to take on a pig-slaughtering job in a neighboring village, and has now returned, all ready to go.
He took off his coat, which was stained with lard and blood, and was wearing only a worn-out padded jacket. He was sitting on a bench in the main room, drinking hot tea from a rough earthenware bowl with Zhang Dahe.
Rough fingers pinched a few pumpkin seeds, peeling them as he spoke in a loud voice:
"...Hey! You didn't see that, Old Song's pig is really fat, with fat as thick as three fingers! When you cut it open, the blood is so plentiful...tsk tsk! And that lard, it's snow-white, it must be so fragrant when it's rendered!"
His face was filled with the satisfaction of earning money after a hard day's work, and spittle flew as he excitedly described the task.
Zhang Dahe sat cross-legged on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) opposite him, holding a teacup, listening with great interest, nodding in agreement from time to time.
"That's right! Pigs raised at the end of the year are fat and juicy, so the meat must be delicious! I'll have Yi-jie braise some fatty intestines later; that's the perfect accompaniment to drinks!"
"Of course!"
Zhang Dashan laughed heartily, picked up the teacup, and took a big gulp.
Zhang Liuyi and Zhang Liuji pushed their wheelbarrows into the courtyard and heard lively conversation coming from the main room.
Zhang Liuji rushed inside, clutching the wooden box, his voice trembling.
"Dad! Second Uncle! Yi'er! It's done! Our braised pork offal is all sold out! Even the braising liquid has been bought up!"
Zhang Liuyi went straight into the kitchen, where his sister-in-law Li Xiulan was efficiently washing the dishes, and Xiao Nan'er was squatting in front of the stove, curiously poking at the unburnt charcoal ash with a twig.
"sister in law."
Zhang Yili called out.
"Oh, Yi-jie'er's here?"
Li Xiulan turned around, a gentle smile on her face, her hands still moving.
"Is there something you need from your sister-in-law?"
"Hmm." Zhang Yili approached and took out a small bag carefully wrapped in old blue cloth from his pocket.
She untied the cloth bag, inside which was a small stack of copper coins, about thirty or forty in total, neatly arranged.
Without saying a word, she grabbed a handful and stuffed them into Li Xiulan's apron pocket.
"Oh dear, Yi-jie, what are you doing?"
Li Xiulan was startled. Her hands were still wet, so she quickly dodged and wiped her wet hands on her apron.
"Take it back quickly, take it back quickly."
Zhang Liuyi stubbornly grabbed his sister-in-law's wrist, forcefully stuffing the copper coin into her palm, his tone sincere.
"Sister-in-law, take this! This is what I earned from selling braised snacks today. If you hadn't taught me that braising sauce recipe, how could I have opened this shop? I made so much in just one day. Take this and buy some maltose and fruit for Xiao Nan'er to sweeten her mouth, so you won't feel uncomfortable asking your uncle and aunt for money."
As she spoke, she deliberately gestured towards Xiao Nan'er, who was engrossed in playing with charcoal ash.
Li Xiulan held the heavy handful of copper coins, still warm from Zhang Zhilian's body temperature, and looked into her sister-in-law's clear and honest eyes, feeling both warm and bittersweet.
She recalled that she had been married into the family for many years and was indeed short of money. She had to think twice before buying her son any snacks.
Yi-jie is... genuinely thinking of her best interests.
"Sister Yi..."
Li Xiulan's voice was a little choked up, her eyes were slightly red, and her hand that was pushing her away finally loosened its grip a bit.
"This...this is too much...that prescription isn't worth much..."
"sister in law."
Zhang interrupted her, his tone even more resolute.
“We’re family, so let’s not be formal. The skills you taught me have enabled me to earn money, and that’s the greatest favor you can do for me. If you don’t accept them, it means you think it’s too little, and that you’re being distant with me.”
She deliberately put on a stern face.
Looking at Zhang Xiaoyi's serious expression, Li Xiulan glanced down at the solid copper coin in her hand, finally sighed, and a helpless yet touched smile appeared on her face. She carefully put the coin into her inner pocket and pressed it down.
"Okay...okay...sister-in-law will accept it. Yi-jie, I will remember your kindness."
She paused, then added.
"If you need any help from your sister-in-law in the future, just let me know. Like cleaning the drains or tending the fire, whenever you have time, bring Nan'er over to lend a hand."
"Alright. It's settled then."
Zhang Liuyi then revealed a bright smile, as if he had accomplished something great.
That night, in the west room of Zhang Dahe's house.
The oil lamp flickered dimly, its yellowish light outlining the three figures lying side by side on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Little Nan'er was already fast asleep at the end of the kang (heated brick bed).
Li Xiulan turned over and spoke to her husband Zhang Liuji beside her in a very low voice, filled with barely suppressed emotion.
“Liu Ji, you didn’t see it… Yi Jie’er insisted on giving me a handful of copper coins today, saying it was money she earned selling braised offal, and she wanted to thank me for teaching her the recipe… It must be seventy or eighty coins.”
Zhang Liuji grunted in the darkness, seemingly unsurprised.
"This child is too honest."
"I've only just started earning some money, and I'm already worried that my sister-in-law is short on cash... She even said it was for buying candy for Nan'er, and told me not to always ask my parents for money..."
Zhang Liuji remained silent for a moment before speaking in a muffled voice.
“Sister Yi… is a kind person, she remembers your kindness. In the future… if she needs any heavy lifting at her stall, just let me know, and I'll run errands for her. It's not easy for her to run a stall alone, so let's help her out as much as we can.”
"Um."
Li Xiulan nodded vigorously, and in the darkness, the couple's hands gently clasped together under the covers.
Warmth and tacit understanding flowed through the small west room.
The next morning, in the Zhang family courtyard.
Zhang Liuyi recounted in detail to his father, Zhang Dashan, who had just finished breakfast, the events of the previous day when he sold braised offal, including how Xiong Zixiang "stood up for justice," how much money he made, and how much he gave to his sister-in-law.
Zhang Dashan was initially surprised, then a relieved smile appeared on his face, and finally, when he heard that he had made a net profit of more than 180 coins, he couldn't help but slap his thigh.
"Good. Good. My daughter is capable. Your sister-in-law and the Xiong family boy are also kind people."
"father."
Zhang noticed his father's expression and tentatively asked.
"I'm thinking that I'll stick to selling braised offal at the West Market from now on. Cold braised offal keeps longer and is more convenient."
Zhang Dashan nodded, tapped his cigarette ash, and explained his plan.
"Hmm, I think that's a good idea. Yi-jie, I'm thinking... when I don't have any pig-slaughtering work to do here, I'll set up a small stall next to yours."
He pointed to the half-pig hanging in the yard.
“We can sell some fresh pork, or minced meat or something. You sell your braised offal, and I'll sell my fresh meat. We can work together, father and son, and look out for each other. We can also save on stall costs. What do you think…?”
Zhang Yili was delighted to hear this; she was naturally eager to work alongside her father.
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