Chapter 72 A Sudden Idea
As evening approached, light snowflakes began to fall from the sky.
After cooking a large pot of melon seeds, Lin Yuesha planned to spread a layer on the unused kang (heated brick bed) to dry them before making some roasted peanuts.
"Sister Lin, what other delicious dishes can you cook?"
Xiao Xi has practically become Lin Yuesha's follower; her eyes light up whenever she hears about delicious food.
"I also have spicy peanuts, pork jerky, and shredded pork. If I can buy the seasonings, I'll make some crispy candy too."
At the Jiang residence, Lin Yuesha did as she pleased and began to distance herself from her servants, but they grew closer to her because of her cooking skills.
Aunt Wang, Xiao Xi's mother, also brought her a lot of pastries so that Lin Yuesha could eat them if she got hungry at night.
Making food is physically demanding, and Lin Yuesha claims it's a family tradition, so she can't find anyone to help with the hard labor.
Jiang Huai had said that all the recipes belonged to Lin Yuesha herself, so her family could do business in that area.
Lin Yuesha took this very seriously and wanted to find her stepbrother, Xiao Qi.
"You said you want to leave the manor now?"
Jiang Baozhu glanced at the sky and strongly disapproved. It was getting dark, and snow was still falling, making the road difficult to travel.
“It’s not far from here to my older brother’s place, and I know the way.”
Lin Yuesha also realized that she was acting on her impulses, but recently she had been entrusting the purchase of materials to the servants of the Jiang family, and she was able to focus on making snacks and probably wouldn't have time to go out.
There were still some spiced melon seeds left over from the last batch. Lin Yuesha wanted to send them to her elder brother, and then tell Xiao Qi the recipes for spiced melon seeds and roasted peanuts so that her mother, Chen, could make them and sell them at the market as soon as possible.
Ordinary roasted melon seeds cost five coins per pound, but spiced melon seeds are not sold by weight; a packet costs five coins and is about two ounces.
During festivals and holidays, people are willing to spend money on some delicious melon seeds.
Making money in this line of work is a way to accumulate wealth gradually. The family doesn't expect to get rich by selling these snacks. This is a new business that Lin Yuesha came up with after the Spring Festival couplets were sold at inflated prices.
As for the source, it's much simpler: I figured it out myself from materials from the Jiang family, and my family wouldn't doubt it.
Lin Yuesha didn't want to delay, so she informed her family as soon as possible so she could start earning money earlier.
"I plan to stay at my older brother's place for the night and come back tomorrow morning."
Xiao Xi went to the front yard, and Lin Yuesha quickly told Jiang Baozhu her thoughts. There was another matter; she wanted to ask Xiao Qi to exchange the hairpin that He Xing had swindled for money.
Lin Yuesha couldn't possibly wear the things He Xing gave her herself, and it wouldn't be appropriate to give them away. It would be better to exchange them for some silver.
Her house was different from others; it was dilapidated and only survived the winter thanks to renovations.
"You're so clever for your age, you always have so many ideas!"
Unable to persuade Lin Yuesha, Jiang Baozhu agreed not to disturb the Jiang family and secretly slipped out through the side gate in the backyard.
Lin Yuesha went out with an innocent look on her face. Jiang Baozhu hesitated, then sighed and said nothing.
Having experienced so much in her past life, Jiang Baozhu doesn't really trust men.
Lin Yuesha was clever and mischievous, but after all, she was a naive young girl, and Xiao Qi, no matter how good he was, was still her stepbrother with no blood relation.
The siblings aren't blood-related, yet they have to live under the same roof without their parents. Won't something go wrong?
Jiang Baozhu covered her face, deeply feeling that her heart was wicked.
Lin Yuesha left the manor carrying a small bundle; it was getting darker. She determined her direction and chose a slightly longer but safer main road.
It gets dark early when it snows, and the shops on both sides are just beginning to close.
"A small amount of braised pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, selling it cheap!"
A shop assistant at a braised meat shop was about to put up the door panel when he casually called out a few words.
"How much?"
Braised pork belly is made with the best pork belly, with a good balance of fat and lean meat, so it's not greasy. If the chef is skilled, it can definitely melt in your mouth.
"Twenty coins, take it."
When the shopkeeper saw that it was a young girl, he pushed the small jar over for Lin Yuesha to see. There were about ten slices inside, which were a bit thin, but if she bought them, he would give her a rough porcelain bowl with a spoonful of braised meat broth.
"I want it."
Lin Yuesha quickly took out her money. She only had twenty copper coins and a silver hairpin. Giving away these coins would leave her penniless.
Thinking that her older brother might be too busy studying to have dinner, Lin Yuesha gave him the money without hesitation.
The snow fell heavier and heavier. What was just a light snowflake turned into a heavy blizzard in the blink of an eye. The snowflakes landed on Lin Yuesha's eyelashes and froze into frost.
Lin Yuesha quickened her pace, and finally almost jogged forward.
Dim light could be faintly seen through the Korean paper window of Xiao Qi's courtyard.
Fortunately, her older brother was in town, so her trip wasn't in vain.
The door was ajar and unlocked. Lin Yuesha pushed it open and went inside silently.
For some reason, when she entered the room, she vaguely saw a white shadow, moving so fast that it was almost invisible.
Lin Yuesha rubbed her eyes, unsure if she had seen it, but there were no footprints on the ground.
"Cough cough."
A cough came from the upper room. Then, Xiao Qi lifted the curtain and saw the little snowman standing at the door. He paused for a moment and said, "Is that my little sister?"
"It's me, Big Brother!"
Lin Yuesha handed the things in her hands to her stepbrother Xiao Qi, brushed the snow off her clothes, and followed him into the kitchen.
The braised pork belly he bought had frozen over with ice crystals along the way. Xiao Qi lowered his head and remained silent.
"Brother, I hope I haven't bothered you by coming so late?"
Lin Yuesha looked left and right. She had just thought of something. Her stepbrother was not young. If he needed to keep a mistress, her sudden appearance might disturb his good time.
Lin Yuesha understands this very well.
Everyone has needs. Young masters from wealthy families have maids by their side even at fourteen or fifteen years old, and the boys in the village are all married and have wives.
Scholars enjoy romance and poetry, and when they have nothing to do, they read novels and erotic stories, which inevitably makes them feel hot and restless and want to release their pent-up desires.
What are you thinking about?
Xiao Qi was both amused and exasperated. The little girl had just arrived and was already distracted, looking around suspiciously, clearly suspecting that there were other people in the room.
Yes, his men had already fled as soon as they heard the commotion.
"Brother, am I bothering you by coming so late?"
Lin Yuesha was being careful, but suddenly realized that she had been somewhat impolite.
"This is my place, it's your home, how can you say it's a disturbance?"
Xiao Qi ruffled Lin Yuesha's hair without showing any anger. In fact, he hated having other people around him, but Lin Yuesha was an exception.
Xiao Qi didn't know why Lin Yuesha came. He wasn't disgusted at all; on the contrary, he was a little happy. Perhaps the little girl could be a spice in his boring life.
"That's good."
Lin Yuesha thought of her stepson, who was a kind-hearted man and easy to bully. Perhaps he really had no temper, but she still reminded herself that unless there was something urgent, she shouldn't be as reckless as she was tonight. If she happened to stumble upon a secret rendezvous between a man and a woman, she would be caught in an awkward situation, unable to advance or retreat.
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