Chapter 136: Selling Ice Jelly to Feed Naughty Kids + Ice Jelly Business
Whether it was to change the subject or if Lin Shu was just thinking about Wang Yingen and the others, she suddenly asked Lin Xiaopu, "What did you say to Wang Yingen and the others? Why haven't they come in after so long?"
Lin Xiaopu grinned. "I'm afraid they'll come too early and look at me with such eager eyes that it'll be unpleasant, so I told them to come later. Don't worry, sister. I've cooled their portions with mountain spring water, ensuring they have the coolest, most refreshing fruit jelly when they come."
It was scorching outside, and Lin Zhaodi and He Guixiang were both sitting in the main room. After everyone else finished their ice jelly, Lin Zhaodi finally started eating. After hearing Lin Shu's advice, she didn't dare crave the cold anymore. She waited until the ice jelly was no longer freezing before eating. Although it was a little less cool, it still tasted good.
Lin Zhaodi ate in small bites, she didn't want to eat too fast.
This sweet treat wasn't just enjoyed by the children of the village; the women themselves loved it, too. However, food was a tight squeeze in the village. Many families with large families, aside from the strong men who had to work, often only ate until they were 60% to 70% full. If they couldn't even fill their stomachs, how could they afford to buy candy?
Hearing Lin Xiaopu's words, Lin Zhaodi couldn't help but laugh. "I used to think Wang Yingen and his gang were just mischievous, but now, for Ah Shu's sake, they've become much more obedient. Xiaopu is amazing, actually being able to command these kids."
This was a compliment to her own daughter, so how could He Guixiang not express her feelings? A smile appeared on her lips. "She used to be timid, afraid even to shout at people. Now that she's been with Ah Shu for a long time, she's slowly grown braver."
It's strange to say, when Ah Yao was around, she'd already pointed out Xiao Pu's timidity and had repeatedly tried to get her to be braver, but Xiao Pu just wouldn't do it. Now Ah Shu was in charge, and I don't know what method she used, but she actually managed to train Xiao Pu to be brave.
Lin Zhaodi continued, "Sister He, now that you put it that way, isn't it true? Xiao Pu's voice was really loud. I could hear it clearly from the courtyard!"
Lin Xiaopu's face turned red and her eyes sparkled because of the praise.
Hehe, she didn't expect her voice to be so loud. When she called people, it was even louder than her elder sister's!
"Mother, Aunt Lin, please stop praising me. Be careful not to praise Xiao Pu so much that he won't be able to find his way around once he goes out." Lin Shu said with a smile.
Lin Xiaopu groaned, "Mother, don't listen to my sister. I'm not someone who doesn't like praise. You can praise me as much as you want. I will never become proud or complacent."
He Guixiang laughed and scolded: "You kid, how can you come here to ask for praise?"
Several people in the house were chatting and laughing when suddenly the laughter of naughty children was heard outside the yard.
Wang Yingen and Feng Shitou rushed into the courtyard like monkeys, "Sister Xiaopu, Sister Ashu, look what we brought?!"
The six little kids didn't come empty-handed. One of them rolled a cone-shaped container with tung leaves and filled it with small river shrimps.
"My mother said that we can't go to other people's houses empty-handed to beg for food. Since we have nothing to do, we'll just pick up some more shrimp for Sister Shu. Didn't you say the more the better?"
Lin Shu walked over and took a look. Wang Yingen and Zhang Laifu's hands were the most filled with shrimps, while the other children's hands were a little less, but it showed how much effort they put in.
She couldn't help but pat the little heads and said with a smile, "Indeed, the more the better. Each of you has done a good job and deserves a reward. Xiao Pu and I have left some snacks for you. Wash your hands and come and have some."
Upon hearing this, Wang Yingen and his companions hurriedly handed the river shrimps in their hands to Lin Xiaopu, and lined up to go to the yard to wash their hands.
They had used the bamboo water pipe in the yard before, so they didn't need anyone to teach them. They pulled out the cloth stopper and washed their black hands clean.
Lin Xiaopu moved all the river shrimps into a bowl, and poured all the six little kids' food, which was filled with tung leaves, into the bowl, which was half full again. After washing them several times, they spread them out together with the previous ones and dried them in a large bamboo sieve.
Lin Shu smiled as she watched Lin Xiaopu busying herself with these things, while she sat in the main room and was lazy.
She didn't sit on the bench in the room, but moved the small bamboo stool Zhou Ye made for her to the main room. The bamboo stool was cooler than the wooden one.
"Sister Shu, where's the food?" Wang Yingen came over after washing his hands and asked.
Lin Shu tilted her chin towards the little girl in the courtyard and said with a smile, "Your sister Xiao Pu is in charge. Ask her if you want to go."
The little kids went to look for Lin Xiaopu with a smile on their faces again. They didn't know how many verbal advantages they got from this clever guy Lin Xiaopu.
When Lin Xiaopu brought the bamboo jars soaked in spring water to the small table in the courtyard one by one, Wang Yingen and the other kids stared in amazement.
"What is this? It looks delicious!"
"My sister made this fruit jelly with rock honey syrup, and I simmered it for a long time with mountain spring water. It's delicious. You guys behaved well today, so my sister prepared it for you long ago. Here, one for each of you, take it and enjoy. I've put a spoon in each bamboo pot, so you can just scoop it out and eat it."
Lin Xiaopu had barely finished speaking when Wang Yingen and the others couldn't wait to pick up the bamboo pots and start eating.
“Mmmmm, it’s really delicious!”
"I don't know what this green thing is, it's so tender and smooth, I love it!"
"The mung beans inside are soft, sweet, and juicy. They taste even better than the mung beans in the mung bean soup in town!"
Wang Yingen: "The melons in here are from my family. Hehe, I saw my mother sent two melons. They taste better when put in here with the other ones!"
After the ice jelly and fruits were eaten, the little kids held the bamboo pot and drank up all the sugar water inside. Two of them even licked the wall of the pot with their tongues.
Lin Xiaopu: ...
I'll have to wash this bamboo jar several times later.
Wang Yingen and his friends didn't leave immediately after eating the ice jelly. They were laughing in the yard and even set up sticks to compete in slingshots.
In the main room, He Guixiang and Lin Zhaodi had a rare chance to relax. They did nothing and chatted with Lin Shu casually.
"Ashu, don't you want to take a rest? It's still early." He Guixiang asked.
Lin Shu said angrily, "Mother, it's not like I take a break every day."
He Guixiang smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I won't ask."
Lin Zhaodi, who was standing by, thought she was embarrassed to take a break because she was there, and was about to find an excuse to leave, but before she could say anything, Lin Shu suddenly asked her, "Aunt Lin, do you think this fruit jelly I made today is delicious? How does it compare to the drinks sold in town?"
Lin Zhaodi didn't know what she was thinking at the moment, so she smiled and praised, "I've actually tried some of the drinks sold in town, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that the fruit jelly you made, Ah Shu, is incredibly delicious. It's in no way inferior to the ones sold at the drink stalls."
In the first two years after she and Zhao San got married, Zhao San took her to eat some drinks in the town secretly. She couldn't remember what they tasted like, but it was definitely not as delicious as the fruit jelly made by Ah Shu.
Lin Shu then asked, "After this thatched house is built in a few days, what are your plans, Aunt Lin?"
The topic changed so quickly that Lin Zhaodi didn't react for a moment. She thought she was asking about how they were going to live in the future. After thinking for a moment, she replied, "There are quite a few slopes and ridges next to the new house. I can open a vegetable patch. I'll plant some vegetables, radishes, and cucumbers first so that the family won't be without vegetables."
"There won't be much food left after we build our houses. I have to go to the market to buy some more. I won't buy too much, just enough to last until the rice in the fields is harvested."
"I have to buy pots, pans, and utensils for the month-end market in a couple of days. I'll have to trouble Sister He when the time comes, though. I'd like to store these sundries with her for now."
He Guixiang replied, "It's a small matter. Just buy it and bring it over."
In fact, it would be better to put these things at the Zhao's house first and move them here together later. However, He Guixiang knew the current situation of her and Zhao Laosan in the Zhao's family, so she didn't say much.
From now on, the two families are not only from the same village but also neighbors, so He Guixiang will naturally help whenever she can.
Although she and Lin Zhaodi had completely different personalities, she could see that Lin Zhaodi was a person who could live a down-to-earth life and had little to do. Even though the two of them often had different things to talk about, she recognized Lin Zhaodi's character and could feel at ease interacting with such a person.
After listening to this, Lin Shu asked pointedly, "Life was quite difficult in the first two years after the separation. Does Aunt Lin have any other ideas?"
Lin Zhaodi heard the hidden meaning in her words and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Sister He and Ashu are both family members, so I won't hide it from you. If we only rely on Zhao San, I'm afraid our family won't be able to save a few copper coins in a year. I want to go to the market to sell some things. I grow fruits and vegetables well, and I will sell the extra ones at the market. In addition, I plan to make some other things to sell. Like palm-leaf fans and straw raincoats. Although every household has them, there are always some that are urgently needed. And straw sandals. I know your third aunt sells straw sandals. I'm not as skillful as her, so I can't make such delicate straw sandals. I'll just make the kind we usually wear, selling them for seven or eight coins a pair, and there will always be people buying them. Making these rough straw sandals won't steal her business..."
If it were someone else, Lin Zhaodi would not pour out all her thoughts at once and explain them in such detail, but it was Lin Shu who asked this question.
She had an inexplicable trust in Lin Shu.
Lin Shu listened carefully and thought to herself that even if Aunt Lin worked her ass off selling these things, she wouldn't make much money.
"Aunt Lin, have you ever thought about making a living by cooking?" Lin Shu asked.
When Lin Zhaodi heard this, she waved her hand as if she had heard something funny. "When we cooked together these past two days, you should have noticed that my cooking skills are average. The only reason I was able to prepare such a table of food is because I did everything you asked, and Sister He also helped me a lot. If you, Shu, weren't by my side, I wouldn't be able to prepare such a table of dishes even if I asked you to. Besides, there are all kinds of food sold in town. How can I compare with those who have been making food for a long time?"
Lin Shu blinked, "Aunt Lin, do you think the fruit jelly I made today will sell well?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Zhaodi suddenly realized something. Thinking back to what Lin Shu had asked her before, she couldn't help but hold her breath.
If she understood correctly, Ah Shu was going to...
Lin Shu smiled. "It's almost midsummer, and life will get harder and harder. Who wouldn't want a cool drink? I won't charge extra for this fruit jelly. I'll charge ten cents a bowl. Aunt Lin, do you think anyone would buy it?"
Lin Zhaodi quickly responded, "Yes! Someone will definitely buy it!"
Then, she clenched her hands nervously, waiting for Lin Shu's next words.
Sure enough, she heard Lin Shu continue, "Aunt Lin, you know I'm a bit spoiled. Would you be willing to help me run around town and sell this fruit jelly?"
When Lin Zhaodi heard this, her breathing quickened, "Ashu, what are you doing..."
Lin Shu: "Of course, I can't ask Aunt Lin to make a wasted trip for me. How about I give you 30% of the profit from selling ice jelly?"
Lin Zhaodi was certain that Lin Shu really wanted to join her in selling ice jelly. She was surprised and delighted for a moment, but when she heard the 30% profit, she was shocked again and waved her hands hurriedly, "No, no, Shu, 30% is too much! You paid for all the ingredients, and there's also rock honey in it, which is very valuable. I'm just running errands for you to sell things, how can I get 30%!"
Without mentioning the extras, the amount Ah Shu made today alone could fill thirty or forty bowls. At ten coins per bowl, that's three or four hundred coins. If she gets a 30% share, wouldn't that mean she'd have a hundred coins each?!
Lin Zhaodi gasped, and not only waved her hands but also shook her head, "Ah Shu, this won't work. I can't take advantage of you. Just give me thirty cents for my hard work!"
Thirty copper coins a day means nearly a thousand copper coins a month, which she doesn’t think is too little!
Lin Shu was not Zhou Paopi. It was not pleasant to be out hawking in such a hot day. Giving her only thirty coins was like giving away a beggar. Moreover, she was giving him the least. The capital cost was nothing, just a little rock honey and a few fruits.
Because Lin Zhaodi was too stubborn, the two of them were deadlocked for a long time and finally took a middle value and gave her 20%.
After this matter was finalized, Lin Zhaodi was still a little dazed.
When she was still worrying about how to save money in the future, A Shu brought her such great news!
How could she have earned Ah Shu's trust in such a short time and have such a lucrative business entrusted to her?
"Ashu, when do we start selling this ice jelly?" Lin Zhaodi asked, and she was already eager to make this ice jelly and sell it immediately.
Lin Shu smiled and said, "Don't worry, Aunt Lin. We have to wait until you and Uncle Zhao move in first."
Lin Zhaodi didn't want to be in a hurry, but when she thought about the fact that it would take several days for the house to be completed, and that if she sold less ice jelly for one day, she would lose a lot of money, she felt that she couldn't wait even for a day!
Money, this is all money!
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