Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Opening.
"Who is it?"
At the second house in Xinghua Lane, a shivering middle-aged man, who had just emerged from his bed, was agitated by the knocks on the door. He leaned halfway against the door and said,
"Excuse me, I'm an acquaintance of Wang Dianji from Shengchangli. I'm here to look for Liu Dianji. I heard..."
The door slammed shut again,
"What's the meaning of dianji or not? I don't know!"
"You! Sister, where should we park our car?"
This cart has to be put aside. They can just carry buckets and baskets to sell their goods, which is much simpler and more low-key.
"Xu Nu?"
The person next door heard the noise and came out, shouting.
"Luo Renren?"
This woman was Luo Shuangniang, who pulled the ox cart back to Benguli that day. The girl in the family was called Douzi. The west city gate was behind Xinghua Lane. I think she was patting the girl and came out of this lane that day. She originally lived here.
"Liu Dianji died of old age two years ago. Her family sold this house to someone else and moved away. Why are you looking for her?"
After hearing the reason, Luo Shuangniang clapped her hands and said, "Why don't you go to the corner near the west city gate? There are hired workers there all day long. Just tell them and they will help watch over it. It won't get lost. My ox cart is also tied there waiting for work.
Come on, come on, you look unfamiliar, I'll take you there."
He led the way warmly, took a shortcut, and went through the alley to the vicinity of the west city gate.
I saw an ox cart tied under the green locust tree, and some wheelbarrows parked at the foot of the wall. They were all parked there by the villagers who came to the city.
Ji Xu parked the wheelbarrow next to it and went to untie the hemp rope, while Ji Feng rolled it up on the side.
"Luo Shuangniang, who is this person you know?"
"Yes, please help look after the car." Luo Shuangniang said.
Ji Xu said, "Excuse me, I'll make some food to sell. Let's try it. Mr. Luo, come and try it."
The fried tofu is slightly different from the stir-fried dishes at home. It is made in the new iron pot at home.
The tofu slices are cut into thin square pieces as thick as fingers. When they are fried until golden brown, they are spread with homemade seasonings and sprinkled with chopped green onions. Now you can use a skewer to poke them and give them to people to taste. It is very convenient.
Luo Shuangniang had not yet had her breakfast, but she happily accepted it and said to the servant beside her:
"If you eat Ms. Xu's food, you have to help watch over the car!"
"Don't worry, we have many ox carts that are never left without people. We will always take care of them when anyone leaves."
The renters were all given a piece of the food and looked at it curiously. Apart from recognizing the green onion, they didn't recognize anything else. They only smelled the overbearing fragrance that made them drool.
After taking a bite, everyone praised it: "What do you call this? It's soft and delicious. If you drink a glass of wine with it, it's absolutely amazing."
"Fragrant pan-fried tofu is made with this fresh tofu."
Ji Xu lifted the linen cloth and saw inside was a white, tender, square piece of tofu, a thick piece with great weight, which attracted people to see.
Ji Feng said, "If it's freshly fried and hot, it will taste better."
"Tofu? It's quite fresh, but I've never heard of it before. How much is it?"
"It tastes so good, but I'm afraid it costs a lot of money, right?"
"Three cents a piece." Ji Xu said.
"That's fine. Give me a piece and I'll go home and cook it."
Nowadays, those old vegetable bangzi in the county and market can be sold for four or five yuan each.
This tofu is as big as a palm and thick. Buy a piece and stew it with some meat or vegetables. It will be a fresh dish, which tastes much better than the old vegetable bangzi.
"I'll take one too."
"I want one too!"
The business was now open. Ji Xu hurriedly poured out the water from the bamboo tube, washed his hands, and wrapped tofu for people. Ji Feng handed things over and took the money, looking very happy.
Some were sold here, and the rest were picked up and put into a basket, covered with linen. Ji Feng carried it, and Ji Xu carried a bucket of tofu pudding, and they went from street to street in Xicheng to sell it.
"Tofu pudding—tofu—"
"Selling chickens—fresh chicken eggs—"
Also running away were other country people, wrapped in thick dusty jackets and carrying baskets. When the families heard that someone was selling eggs, many of them put on clothes and opened their doors to buy them.
No one was interested in the tofu pudding and tofu made by the two sisters, which made Ji Feng very worried. She had come all the way here, so she couldn't fail to sell them.
"It's okay, let's walk a little longer." Ji Xu said comfortingly.
After thinking for a while, he changed his selling method: "Tofu pudding, smooth and delicate tofu pudding, it tastes sweet to the mouth and heart!"
Ji Feng was clever, and immediately smiled, and also learned to hawk:
"Tofu, pan-fried tofu! Savory and delicious pan-fried tofu! Come and try it!"
The two of them spoke one sentence each and could even take a break, and they worked together very well.
According to the tenants, all kinds of people live in the West City. The houses are crowded and narrow, and there are reed ropes and peach branches hung in front of each house on New Year's Day.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, the weather was a bit dry. A door suddenly opened and a woman was about to empty her urine bucket when she asked casually:
"What is tofu pudding?"
"A sweet dessert, perfect for breakfast. If you have honey or malt syrup at home, you can melt it in water and give it to me. I'll give you a bowl to try. If you like it, you can buy more."
When the woman heard that she could taste it, she hurried back, dissolved some malt starch in water, and chased after him with the bowl in hand.
"Pour more, it will melt into half a piece of candy." said the woman.
"Okay."
Ji Xu took out spoonfuls of something smooth and creamy from the bucket, enough to fill her bowl.
The woman was delighted and took a bite.
"Mmm! It's slippery and delicious!"
One bowl is not enough. If I had known she would bring a bigger bowl to taste, I would have asked:
"How do you sell this tofu pudding?"
"Two cents a bowl."
“Give me a bowl!”
Some people who were going out to buy breakfast in the city came over and asked:
"What are you selling?"
"Tofu pudding, add some honey and malt syrup, it tastes really good, try it before buying."
Seeing that her sister was busy, Ji Feng responded.
Many people went home to get a bowl, tasted it first, and then said they wanted to buy it. A can, two cents a bowl?
As for the economy, if you go to a restaurant in the city to get a bowl of water-cured pancakes for breakfast, it will cost more than ten yuan.
"I want a bowl!"
"I want two bowls!"
Everyone rushed to buy it.
"We have both, we have both. Don't squeeze my sister." Ji Feng happily took the money and said as well.
Someone heard from afar that it was two coins a bowl, so he brought a large earthenware bowl from home, bigger than his face.
"I want a bowl, this is my bowl!"
Ji Xu smiled and said, "It's my bowl."
She brought a new bowl from home to use as a measuring vessel, which was an ordinary large bowl used for eating and drinking. She first poured the water into her own bowl and then poured it into the other person's vessel.
"Here, little girl, two coins."
A man ordered a bowl of tofu pudding, paid for it and turned away.
Ji Feng knew something was wrong when she received it. She didn't count money for nothing. This copper coin was obviously thin and must be a fake coin mixed with lead and iron. She shouted:
"Come back! The money is fake!"
The man lived in this lane. He had just gotten up, and his robe was disheveled. He was heard to say:
"How can it be fake? It looks real to me!"
"Everyone, look and see if it's real or fake." Ji Feng spread his hands and revealed the coin.
Everyone took a look and pinched it, and said, "It's indeed fake. I have a sharp eye."
"Old Four, you're being dishonest! Look, it's just a little girl using fake money!"
The man was embarrassed by the buzzing of people and his veins were throbbing as he clenched the bowl.
Ji Xu said hurriedly, "It's just one penny. They say the people living in this lane are good people. I'm sure no one would let us down. My dear, you must have been deceived and mistakenly accepted this fake money. I've been deceived before. It's okay. Just exchange it."
The man said, "That's right! It's just a penny! How could she be shortchanged?"
After saying that, he took out some money and gave it to Ji Xu.
Ji Feng wanted to argue, but Ji Xu patted her back. When Ji Feng saw her sister's eyes, she understood that the villain was difficult to deal with and should not be provoked. So she continued to do her own business and did not argue with her.
At this moment, in the center of the city, there stood a tower with a large drum hanging on it. A city official climbed up the tower and beat the drum to spread the message:
"Open! Open!"
"Open the city gate—"
The three gates of the city, east, south and west, were opened wide, and merchants who were waiting to open their shops outside poured in, as well as the people who came to the market to buy things. The whole city was suddenly bustling with noise.
Among them were some peddlers without city registration, including Zhang the peddler who sold peach wood carvings.
He was carrying a basket on his back, his clothes were bulging, and he was walking around with ease, just like any other ordinary citizen strolling around the market. While chatting with people, he took out a short peach wood sword from his arms to ward off evil spirits.
Ji Xu was still in the alley, selling tofu puddings with great success, when he suddenly heard someone shout:
"The bailiff is coming! The bailiff is coming! Run!"
It was the chicken seller, who was now coming back from the alley, running past them and giving them a reminder.
Ji Xu and Ji Feng also picked up their buckets and baskets and ran away, saying:
"Wait for me here! I'll be back soon!"
And those who paid the money but didn’t get the tofu pudding with their bowls in hand naturally didn’t go anywhere.
After a while, two city officials, one fat and one thin, wearing black clothes and ochre belts, slowly walked past the alley entrance.
The county market had opened, which meant they were on duty. They were patrolling the city, chasing away those unregistered traders. When they saw a group of people here, they asked:
"Have you seen any retail traders selling?"
This group of people, men, women, old and young, were all used to it and shook their heads in agreement.
"No."
After the two market officials left, they went around to the two sisters Ji Xu who were hiding in the alley, then returned and continued selling.
The old man selling chicken eggs also continued to shout: "Chicken eggs——"
Ji Xu was on guard and, while he was busy here, he called Ji Feng to go to the other end of the alley and keep an eye on things.
Ji Feng was very smart. When he saw the city official from a distance, he calmly turned his back and walked away. After turning a corner, he ran over to report the news.
Ji Xu and the chicken seller hurriedly ran away to hide, and Ji Feng waited there with the empty bucket. They had sold out their tofu pudding, so they were now just selling tofu.
By noon, there were only about ten pieces of tofu left unsold, so Ji Xu picked up his basket, traveled light, and took Ji Feng with him, pretending to go for a stroll in the city.
As for the empty wooden barrel, it had been placed on a wheelbarrow under the locust tree, so as long as the people were there, it would not be lost.
He ran into Zhang, a peddler selling wood carvings. Zhang was trying to sell Ji Xu his peach wood carved ghost-faced beard. Ji Xu laughed and said,
"The peddler doesn't remember me? I bought one just before the New Year."
After saying this, he borrowed the beard and measured it against his face. Peddler Zhang slapped his forehead and said,
"It's you!"
Then he looked at it carefully, saw the clue of the basket, and said:
"You are quite brave, girl. You just asked me about it the other day, and you came here today. What are you selling?"
"Tofu is food."
As he spoke, he uncovered the basket and showed it to him.
He forked out two pieces of sample food and gave them to him, saying, "Try it, too, Mr. Zhang."
"Well, this tofu tastes good." Zhang the peddler ate it with relish, one mouthful after another.
Ji Xu asked him, "I was selling in the alleys of West City just now, and it went smoothly. I wonder if it's more convenient outside this city?"
Peddler Zhang had been working for half a day, and now that he had something delicious to eat, he was ready to talk to Ji Xu:
"Outside, you have to hide here and there. In the city, you have to be careful, but the rules are different. Look there."
Zhang the peddler pointed to the three-story market tower in the center of the market. On top of it, he saw two market officials kneeling beside a table, eating bread and drinking water.
"If you sell it in the market, you don't have to worry about the tax collectors walking around."
I saw those roaming tax collectors, all going in and out of the shops, with a scroll of bamboo slips in their hands. They were in charge of collecting taxes from the shops and ignored the retail customers.
The peddler Zhang said, "We had to be on guard against being stopped by the gatekeepers. Since you've sneaked in, you've passed that hurdle and don't have to worry about it.
The second thing is to be wary of the market clerks on the tower. They stand high up and can look down at everything, understand the business of merchants, and keep an eye on the order of the market.
If they see us retail traders selling here, they will definitely chase us away and confiscate our belongings and money. Whether they can let us off the hook or not depends entirely on their mood."
"Hurry up, while they are having lunch, they are much looser, we can sell it quietly." Zhang the peddler said, and went to find someone to sell his goods to.
If people were to hawk their wares in the streets outside, the city would have to be quiet.
Fortunately, the city is bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder, so there is no need to worry about lack of customers.
Ji Xu went to the woman carrying a basket half-filled with vegetables and asked:
"Madam, today is the seventh day of the lunar month. Please buy some tofu and add it to the soup."
Today is the seventh day of the first lunar month. Legend has it that Nuwa created the world. She created chickens on the first day of the first lunar month, dogs on the second day, pigs on the third day, sheep on the fourth day, cows on the fifth day, horses on the sixth day, and humans on the seventh day. Therefore, the seventh day of the first lunar month is the birthday of mankind, also known as "Human Day". People will cook seven kinds of vegetables into a soup on this day to celebrate birthdays.
That's why the city is so lively today, because people come here to buy vegetables and go back to make soup to celebrate.
"Preserved beans? Can they be made into soup?"
The woman asked, as she was thinking about how to make a soup with these seven vegetables in a new way.
"Yes, it's this kind of tofu. You buy it and cut it into dices. Add some cabbage, radish, fried chicken, dried mushrooms, bacon or fresh meat, and sprinkle some chopped green onions before serving. It's a seven-ingredient soup. This tofu soup is so refreshing."
The woman listened, this man was a master at cooking, very organized, like an expert, so she didn't have to think about the vegetable soup for the seventh day of the first lunar month, so she said:
"Give me two."
Ji Xu did not stay in one place. He would ask here and then go to another tunnel or corridor to ask again, so as to avoid gathering a crowd and attracting attention from the city hall.
"Well, my old mother just doesn't like the bean smell when beans are cooked. Your tofu is great, pure white, without any bean smell at all. I'll pick two pieces."
Those who asked repeatedly said that they had all bought it.
"Beans? I have bad teeth, so I don't eat beans."
An old woman misheard and pointed at her few remaining teeth, shaking her head and waving her hands.
"Auntie, this is tofu. It's soft and you can eat it even if you don't have teeth."
Ji Xu said, and then told her in detail how to make vegetable soup.
When the old woman heard this, she took Ji Xu's hand and kept muttering:
"Tofu is good, tofu is good. Look, all my molars have fallen out, and I can't eat anything hard. I can only take a few bites of what I can chew. Pick me a piece and I'll make a soup."
He untied his belt again and took out three warm coins from his clothes.
Ji Xu looked at it, picked out some pieces with broken edges that were difficult to sell, packed them together, handed them to her, and then asked others.
Ji Feng looked at the little tofu left in the basket and felt more and more happy. She was hungry because she hadn't eaten lunch.
Ji Xu gave her some money and asked her to go to a small restaurant in the city to pick up some food.
Ji Feng brought back three Hu Bing, which were sprinkled with sesame seeds on the outside, baked until crispy and fragrant, and filled with mutton. They were much better than Sun Linlang's. By now they were all sold out. She ate them with great satisfaction and even left one for Ji Zhu to take back and enjoy.
Ji Feng said, "There are still four more coins."
She bought a lot of Hu Bing, and Ji Xu asked her to save them for snacks. Ji Feng was so happy that she tucked them into her cloth bag.
While he was eating, he saw two market officials coming down from upstairs. They went straight to a fish and shrimp vendor. One of them confiscated the fish basket, and the other took him out of the market.
The fishmonger shouted, "You caught the wrong fish! I came here to buy fish! Sir, you caught the wrong fish!"
The two sisters were so nervous that they came out from Xishi Gate.
I saw a clerk at the foot of an inconspicuous wall tossing a purse, weighing it to see if it was heavy enough, stuffing it into his waist, and saying:
"This is the second time you've been arrested. If you do it a third time, I'll report you to the higher-ups and have you sent to hard labor."
The fishmonger bowed and saluted repeatedly, and the clerk then let him go. He picked up the fish basket with two large live crucian carps in it and went back to the market to continue his duty.
The fishmonger had given the money to the filial son and his fish basket was gone. As the man walked away, he shook his head and spat fiercely:
"Another day's work for nothing! No wonder they say farming is not as good as industry, industry is not as good as business, and embroidery is not as good as working at the market gate! Ugh!"
He walked away angrily.
Ji Feng was frightened by what she saw, and thought to herself that she had to be more alert and keep an eye on her sister from now on.
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