The layout of the room was similar to Meng Zhao's own room, except that there was an additional wooden bookshelf, making the already small room feel even more cramped.
The bookshelf was neatly arranged with some old books. From their slightly worn appearance and curled pages, it was easy to tell that they had been read many times.
There were brushes and ink on the table. Meng Zhao looked around but didn't see any new paper, so he focused his attention on a stack of used paper, thinking of drawing on the back.
Upon opening them, it was discovered that both sides of the papers were covered with writing, with even the spaces between the main texts filled with numerous smaller characters, leaving almost no empty space and making the most of every single sheet of paper.
After searching for a long time, she finally found two sheets of paper that were still somewhat blank. She dipped her hand in ink and began to draw on the paper.
Due to my unfamiliarity with the brush, the lines were a bit crooked, and I could only barely make out the outline.
Holding the completed drawings, Meng Zhao pushed the cart out the door.
Having learned from her previous trip to the county, she now knew the way.
After walking for less than half an hour, we arrived at the city gate, found a carpenter's workshop in the city, and showed the carpenter the drawings we had made.
She plans to add baffles around the stroller and a foldable support frame at the front and back.
When setting up a stall, you can lower the front and back supports to turn it into a flat table where you can put things. When not in use, you can also fold up the supports, which is very convenient.
Then they showed the tray design to the craftsman. Ceramic was fragile, and iron was too expensive. After much consideration, they could only choose wood.
After negotiation, thirty were made at a price of eight coins each. A large wooden bucket was also ordered for steaming rice. Including the cost of modifying the cart, the total cost was 380 coins.
Not far from the carpenter's shop was the blacksmith's shop, and Meng Zhao showed the blacksmith the blueprints he had drawn in advance.
"Master, I'd like to have a rectangular iron basin with a rim made. Do you think you can make one?" The reason for making it rectangular is that it saves more space compared to a round basin, whether it's laid out or stacked.
"Girl, I've never made this before. What do you intend to do with it?"
The blacksmith who received the blueprints was completely baffled. He had only ever seen round basins made, never square ones.
"These are for serving food, and they look neater when they're arranged. Do you think it's possible to customize them, sir?"
“I can certainly make it, but it will take longer and the price will be higher. For your size, it would cost 100 coins. I have a ready-made round basin of similar size here, which costs only 50 coins.”
Meng Zhao needs at least six square basins, and each one costs fifty coins, which is three hundred coins more expensive than that, which is no small amount.
She wanted to make a square basin because she was concerned about keeping it warm in winter.
A square bowl can be placed on a larger square bowl with a perforated iron frame, held in place by the rim of the smaller square bowl. The larger bowl is filled with hot water, and the food can be kept warm simply by continuously changing the hot water. Round bowls are more complicated to operate.
After much deliberation, Meng Zhao decided to make a square basin. She would have to replace it sooner or later anyway, so she might as well do it now. She was grateful for the property left by the original owner, which made things much easier for her.
After deciding to get square basins, Meng Zhao started negotiating the price with the shop owner. In the end, he ordered six square basins and two iron pots for 700 coins each, the same size as the ones he currently had at home, which Meng Zhao had measured before he came.
The stove will be built in advance. We'll make the iron pots first and pick them up tomorrow. The square basins will be picked up in seven days.
After receiving a satisfactory reply, Meng Zhao returned to the carpentry workshop and had lids custom-made for each square basin.
After discussing what needed to be customized, Meng Zhao decided it was time to meet the original owner's parents.
Meat is an essential ingredient for selling boxed lunches. The original text mentioned that her parents ran a butcher shop in the west of the city. It would be unreasonable for a family to run a butcher shop but not buy meat from their own store.
Meng Zhao asked someone for the general location of the butcher shop and nervously headed towards the west of the city.
There are various shops on both sides of the street, and some small vendors on the open spaces on both sides. In the distance, you can see the sign of Mengji Meat Shop.
A woman in her thirties, slightly plump, was standing in front of the stall, talking to a customer buying meat. As she spoke, she deftly cut pieces of meat with her knife and threw them into the customer's basket.
Worried about admitting his mistake, Meng Zhao didn't call out to anyone but went straight to the butcher shop.
Upon seeing Meng Zhao, the woman was initially delighted, but then frowned and gritted her teeth, saying, "You little rascal, you still know how to come back. Do you know how worried your father and I were? If you hadn't come today, your father and I would have had to go to the Shen family to look for you tomorrow."
At this moment, she couldn't care less about business. While talking, she hung up the "Closed" sign and pulled Meng Zhao into the backyard.
As soon as she entered the backyard, she couldn't wait to shout at the top of her lungs, "Meng Dashan, Meng Dashan, come out quickly, your daughter is back."
Immediately afterwards, a burly man who was about 180 cm tall and weighed about 180 kg ran out of the house and pounced on Meng Zhao, startling Meng Zhao so much that she took a step back.
Meng Zhao was now certain that the couple in front of her were the original owner's parents, and would also be her parents in the future.
Because the book didn't describe her much as a cannon fodder character, Meng Zhao couldn't quite grasp the original owner's temperament, so she could only speak arrogantly based on the limited descriptions in the book.
"Dad, I'm back. Is there anything to eat? I'm starving."
"Yes, yes, Zhao Zhao, you go inside and rest. Dad will go get you some food." He stopped abruptly, who was about to pounce on Meng Zhao, and walked towards another room.
With a loving expression, Meng Zhao's mother took Meng Zhao's hand and led her into the main room, asking about her recent situation from time to time.
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