Chapter 14: Selling mung bean soup as a cold drink, pocket money, finding honey...
River shrimp are prone to dying if left in a bucket overnight. They are small, only two or three centimeters long. It's also a bit of a hassle to just boil them in hot water and peel them to eat.
Lai removed the inedible parts of the shrimp and crab, heated the oil, and fried the whole thing. He sprinkled the fried shrimp and crab with ground salt, and each bite was crispy and fragrant.
He then used the remaining oil to make a stew of vegetables and mushrooms.
Stir-fry the greens and then wash the pan.
Add oil again, heat the oil, add sugar to caramelize it, then pour the blanched and rinsed pork belly into the pot all at once to start making braised pork.
Neil served the dishes, set out the bowls and chopsticks, and washed a few caramel melons, placing them in a small woven basket as dessert.
After the braised pork was cooked, the two of them ate it with steamed buns and rolls, finishing what was a fairly hearty dinner.
After dinner, Lai used the water that had been drying outside during the day to wash their clothes, while Neil fed the chickens and washed the dishes.
As darkness fell, the two washed themselves with warm water and went to sleep.
In the morning, Lai got up early, poured the soaked mung beans into a pot, added cold water according to the ratio, and slowly simmered them.
When it was fully light, the mung beans were finally cooked until soft and mushy. He added some sugar and honey, and after simmering for a while longer, he removed the firewood and let it cool down slowly.
"Brother, are you cooking so many mung beans to sell?"
Neil followed behind Lai, watching him scoop the mung bean soup into a steamer, and then put the pot and soup into freshly drawn cold water to chill it.
"yes."
"Brother, will this really sell?"
Without saying a word, Ray scooped a bowl and handed it to Neil.
"Try it."
Neil took a sniff, and a strong mung bean aroma hit him, which he wasn't used to. But his trust in his brother led him to try a sip.
Neil's slightly furrowed brow was quickly smoothed out, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
"Sweet?"
"Yes, I added sugar and honey."
Neil took another big gulp, this time tasting the not-fully-cooked mung beans. With a gentle chew, he tasted the soft, mushy mung bean paste.
Will this sell?
"Ray asked."
"able!"
"Brother, can you take me with you? I can help you carry your things!"
Neil looked at him expectantly.
"Aren't you going to class today?"
"Take a break today!"
Neil answered quickly. His expression practically screamed "Take me there!"
"OK."
"That's great! Thank you, brother!"
“Brother, let’s sell it for a higher price.” Neil winked slyly at Ray. “We’ve added sugar, it’s sure to sell very well.”
"good."
Every so often, Lai would replace the mung bean soup with freshly drawn well water that had been chilled. The used water would be left to dry in the yard; once heated, it could be used directly for washing clothes or taking a bath in the evening.
Around noon, Lai had prepared food early. After eating with Neil, he carried the mung bean soup and some household items on his back and took Neil to the construction site.
He wrapped the steamer containing the mung bean soup tightly with a thick blanket to prevent the drink from getting too hot on the way.
The two brothers walked for a long time before arriving at their destination. From afar, they could see the makeshift shelter and the crowd who had just finished eating and were resting.
Lai carried the goods to the shade of a tree and neatly arranged them, while Neil solicitously placed the small stool he had brought next to the stall.
The brothers' actions attracted people's attention.
"Lay, what do you sell?"
A villager from a small mountain village asked.
"Iced mung bean soup."
The worst thing about selling something is having no one ask about it; if someone asks, there's hope of selling it.
"You can try it."
"Ray said with a smile."
Upon hearing that they could sample the drinks, they immediately attracted more than a dozen people.
Neil folded the washed, thick leaves into small cups according to Ray's instructions. Ray lifted the blanket and opened the pot lid, and a cool breeze wafted out.
He quickly scooped some mung bean soup, swiftly covered the pot with the lid and blanket, and poured the soup into a leaf cup.
Several people raised their bowls of mung bean soup and drank it all in one gulp. The unique fragrance of mung beans filled their mouths, and the cool taste was slightly sweet, leaving them wanting more.
How much does it cost?
"A bowl costs five copper coins. This soup not only quenches thirst and relieves summer heat, but also clears heat and detoxifies."
Some people hesitated. A bowl of barley tea only cost two copper coins. Although it wasn't as refreshing as mung bean soup, nor did it taste as good... it was cheaper!
"Give me a bowl!"
Kerry didn't think much of it and just bought a bowl.
His family owns a lot of land and many children, so his parents don't ask them to work outside the farm during the off-season. Working under the scorching sun, a cool drink is a welcome treat.
Ray let Neil take the copper coin that Carey handed over, ladled him a large bowl of mung bean soup, and then scooped a spoonful of mung bean paste mixed with honey into a small earthenware pot.
"What's this?"
Kerry pointed to the small earthenware pot.
"Mung bean paste with honey."
"This is good."
Kerry took a big gulp of the drink, basking in the envious glances of others, her smug little expression radiating joy.
Other young men, around the same age as Kaili, saw him buying some and joined in, buying a few bowls as well. Meanwhile, the middle-aged people, mostly adults with children, quietly drank some of the warm spring water that the village had fetched that morning.
In a short while, Lai sold about ten bowls of mung bean soup.
Not many, but it's a successful start.
Neil happily hugged the money bag, afraid it would be stolen.
The sun was high in the sky, at the hottest time of the day. Those who came to work had the means to spread out a straw mat on the ground, while those who didn't spread out a pile of dry grass and lay down on the ground to rest.
Ray broke off two large blades of grass and put them on his and Neil's heads, using the leaves to fan themselves.
About an hour later, people started arriving from the village one after another, and those who were sleeping on the ground got up to prepare for work.
Lai perked up and started hawking his wares, and some people actually tried the tea and bought a few bowls. But most people went to the barley tea stall instead. The villagers who bought barley tea came after their afternoon rest, half an hour later than Lai.
"You sell mung bean soup here?"
A middle-aged man with slightly graying hair came over and asked.
His exposed skin was tanned dark, and there were several deep wrinkles on his forehead. He stood ramrod straight and looked very energetic. Ray was somewhat unsure of his exact age.
"Yes, try it, it's free."
Lai poured him a small cup and handed it to him.
The mung bean soup wasn't as refreshing as it had been at the beginning, but it still tasted good.
"Not bad, you made it yourself?"
"Yes, it simmered over low heat all morning."
"Give me a drink."
The middle-aged man took out a cup from the only sheltered area, and as usual, Lai ladled soup and added red bean paste.
"I'll give you two more copper coins, and you can add more red bean paste to it."
"good."
Lai added another large spoonful of red bean paste, and the middle-aged man left satisfied.
Inside the shed, Simon took a sip of the sweet mung bean soup, looking quite content, and continued sketching on paper with his charcoal pencil. Several apprentices watched Simon drinking the dark green liquid with curiosity.
"Teacher, what are you drinking?"
"Mung bean soup."
"They sell them outside, go buy them yourself."
"Okay, sure."
Several apprentices each bought a cup from Lai's stall. They were pleasantly surprised when they tasted the sweet mung bean soup.
The lively scene in front of Lai's stall immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Everyone knew that Simon and his apprentices came from Eton, and their every move was being watched. Seeing them buy mung bean soup from Ray's stall, the more curious people followed suit and bought some to try. The stall suddenly became bustling with activity.
Lai hadn't prepared much because he was worried about not being able to sell it, but he didn't expect it to be sold out in just a few hours.
Lai packed up his things, carrying the stool and the heavy copper coins back home. Even though they walked under the shade of trees the whole way, the two brothers were still covered in sweat.
The water in the yard had been warmed by the sun. After putting down his things, Lai took off his shirt and washed himself directly in the yard with a towel soaked in water.
The sunlight reflected off his inverted triangle physique, making him appear radiantly white. Only his arms and neck were sunburned and somewhat flaky.
Neil followed suit and quickly washed his short hair with water.
Ray fished out a few Camerons from the well, smashed one in half with his fist, and then shared it with Neil, each taking half.
It's icy cold, sweet, and refreshing.
After finishing their cantaloupe, Lai and Neil sat in the living room counting money, carrying a heavy money bag.
Twenty bowls were stacked in a row, thirteen neatly stacked on the table, and twelve loose ones were also sold. A total of fifty-four bowls were sold, yielding two hundred and seventy-two copper coins.
"Brother, we sold so much today!"
Neil was somewhat excited.
Are you going to sell them again tomorrow?
"I have some mung beans left at home, but not many. I'll have to go to town to buy some more in a few days."
"Um."
Green beans cost fifteen copper coins a pound, and the honey was harvested by myself; it was more expensive in Sugar Town, costing fifty copper coins a pound. All things considered, I still made a profit today.
Lai calculated today's earnings in his mind.
He put ten stacks of copper coins into a bag, and then pushed the twelve extra copper coins to Neil.
"Your allowance."
Neil looked at Ray with a somewhat bewildered expression.
The children in the village were fed enough every day and then left to their own devices. They only received a few copper coins as pocket money during the annual harvest festival to buy biscuits.
Why did my brother suddenly give me pocket money?
"I don't want to."
Neil shook his head in refusal, his eyes filled with deep confusion.
"Keep it to buy food."
Ray somewhat forcefully shoved the copper coin into Neil's hand, and Neil didn't refuse again, silently putting the money in his pocket.
"Thank you, brother."
"Um."
Ray noticed early on that Neil was somewhat reserved when he was around him.
Although he is dependent on his older brother, he also carefully observes his brother's expressions. If Ray becomes a little firm, he will immediately change his mind and go along with Ray's wishes in everything.
Cautious, like a rabbit.
This is not how a twelve-year-old should behave. The deaths of his parents and his brother's serious injury have left deep scars on his heart. He is afraid of losing his last remaining family member.
This problem isn't a huge one, but it's not insignificant either. Ray knows it's a psychological issue that needs time to heal.
"I'm going to collect honey this afternoon, do you want to come along?"
Ray abruptly changed the subject; he wasn't very good at dealing with children, especially obedient ones like Neil.
"go!"
Neil became happy again.
Lai cleaned the steamer and other containers used for the mung bean soup, rinsed the mung beans several times, soaked them in water, and then took his tools and Neil to the woods to look for beehives.
It was Neil's first time venturing into such a deep forest, and he followed closely behind him the whole way.
Wild beehives are a rare find, and Ray's success in collecting honey last time was purely accidental. He took Neil to the spot from before, and sure enough, the bees had moved away.
There were footprints left by small animals on the ground, and Lai set two traps in suitable locations and marked them to prevent villagers from accidentally stepping on them.
"elder brother."
Neil spoke in a low voice, as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Speak normally, it's fine."
“There are wood ear mushrooms there.”
Lai looked in the direction Neil was pointing and sure enough saw the wood ear mushrooms, but they weren't in as good condition as the ones he had picked last time.
"Want to pick them?"
Neil asked.
"Pick it!"
The two brothers picked some wood ear mushrooms.
"Brother, there's more over there!"
Neil watched some more.
You have to admit that young people have better eyesight.
With a sigh in his heart, Lai led Neil to pick all the wood ear mushrooms in the area.
The two brothers walked and stopped, picking two baskets full of wild vegetables and fruits, but they still couldn't find the beehive. Seeing that it was almost time, Ray took Neil home.
The honey issue needs to be reconsidered; Lai thinks it's more reliable to just buy sugar directly in town.
A note from the author:
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