In the afternoon, Zhang Fangyuan came back a little early with an empty cart, but when he came back, he had already brought back a cart full of pork.
After lunch time, there were only two people resting in the tea shed. Xu He had nothing to do, so he went to see how the livestock Zhang Fangyuan had bought were.
"Unload half of it. It's still early today, so we can set up a small stall over here and hang a few pieces of pork. If anyone sees it and wants to buy it, we can sell some."
Xu He saw that the pork this time was leaner, but there had been no major festivals or busy farming seasons recently, so not many farmers in the countryside bought meat. It mainly depended on the buyers in the city, and leaner pork was easier to sell to people in the city. He thought Zhang Fangyuan's suggestion was quite good, so he immediately helped out and took out some palm leaves from the house to make ropes to thread the meat.
Zhang Fangyuan said, "I brought back half of the pig blood this time and left it in the teahouse to cook."
Xu He thought that this person was also calculating: "Okay."
Zhang Fangyuan walked into the kitchen again and took a look at the tea jar that was full in the morning. Now it was only a quarter of it, and there were only two cubes of tofu pudding left in the big pot. He was a little thirsty, but instead of drinking tea, he scooped some tofu pudding water with a ladle and drank it.
"Is business good at noon?"
"It's OK. The best-selling items are still the tea-water bean curd. Most of the people passing by are villagers, so the ones that are affordable are easier to sell."
Zhang Fangyuan nodded. It was true that the villagers were reluctant to spend money. "Then make another pot of tofu pudding to sell tomorrow."
Xu He responded, and then said: "I plan to make some more臊子 later. I just happen to have some fresh pork to make some wontons, so I will have some noodles for tomorrow."
"Can."
Zhang Shiyue watched the young couple enter the tea stall, so she boiled another pot of water in the kitchen, brewed half a pot of tea, and also made a large pot of sugar water. Passers-by were hungry but reluctant to spend money on food, so some of them wanted to drink a pot of sweet water before they went on their way, not because it tasted good, but more because it was sweet and made them feel full.
Of course, this sweet water is more expensive than tea.
Xu He fanned Zhang Fangyuan for a while. Actually, it was cool under the banyan tree.
When the sun was scorching at noon, the mud on the official road could be blown up high by the wheels of a carriage. Even a little wind would be scalding hot. However, it was different in the shade under the trees. The wind came in gusts and was as cool as if it came from a deep well.
Xu He took out his small abacus to count his money. He had less than two hundred coins in his pocket so far today.
Let's calculate the money spent on opening the tea shed. It cost more than two thousand coins to hire someone, but the materials for building the tea shed were free, as they were all wood picked up from Gongshan and trees cut from his own hill. However, buying pots, pans, tables, chairs and benches cost nearly another two thousand coins.
All in all, it would cost at least five thousand coins. Xu He took a breath. It was a lot of money, but he had checked the market conditions of shops in the city before. He knew that spending 5,000 coins from the start to the opening was already a good deal.
If you want to open a business in the city, you'll have to double or triple this money.
But the money spent is less, the customer flow is not as good as in the city, and the daily turnover is not significant. As it stands now, it would be better to set up a stall in the city and sell braised dishes.
But he also knew that he couldn't just look at the present. After experiencing the hardships of setting up stalls, he knew that the business over there was destined to not last long, and it would be best to quit while he was ahead.
Furthermore, he really likes the feeling of running the tea stall now. He has the peace of mind of having his own shop, and he doesn't have to compete with people in the city.
After Zhang Fangyuan cooled down, he said, "You can sell the pork. I'm bored here and want to take a nap. I might as well go to the fields to catch some fish and shrimp."
Xu He put away his abacus and said, "Be careful not to trample on other people's rice seedlings. They are about to bear ears of rice."
"I'll go to Fourth Uncle's field and find more. If I find more, I'll have more crucian carp dishes in my shop tomorrow."
"If you want to eat, just say so. It's like you're just talking about it for the shop."
Zhang Fangyuan picked up a bucket and went there with Xiao Hei, who was still eating grass, in his arms.
"This Ayuan, he is so naughty even at such a grown-up. When he becomes a father, he will teach his children bad things." Zhang Shiyue saw the man running outside as soon as he entered the tea shed.
Xu He was silent when he heard this. He still didn't know when he and Zhang Fangyuan would have children. If they had more children, they would be cute to look at when they could walk and were placed in front of the tea stall.
Zhang Shiyue seemed to see through his thoughts: "Don't worry, you and Ayuan have been married for less than a year. Xiao'e's father and I were married for many years before we had a daughter. This child, it all depends on fate."
Xu He rarely asked, "Should I just go to the Guanyin Temple to pray? It's not too far from here."
Zhang Shiyue waved her hand and said, "Ayuan is such a strong young man, and you are in good health, so there is no need to ask for help. If you still haven't made any plans in three or two years, it won't be too late."
Xu He was a little disappointed: "But many people in the village said that I was skinny and ugly, and that I was not good at giving birth."
"Who is so long-tongued and talking nonsense?"
Zhang Shiyue looked at Xu He carefully again. He didn't have a big frame, but his face was very distinctive, with big eyes and regular features. Although her skin was not white, it was a healthy light wheat color. She looked much more energetic and clever than those young ladies and gentlemen. She was obviously of excellent quality.
Although she had not been in the village before, she knew about the stupid things Zhang Fangyuan had done after the death of Lao Wu and his wife. When she came back and saw Xu He, she was a little surprised how A Yuan had asked her to come back and be his wife.
She has good looks, is capable of managing household affairs, and is not a talkative person.
After spending some time together, she discovered that Xu He had absolutely no confidence in his appearance or talent.
This morning I realized that it was caused by the gossip of the villagers.
She said patiently: "Today is different from the past. Life is very different when it is good. Look, you are doing very well now."
"In the early years, when my second aunt lived in a village in another county and had a good life, she was in good spirits and the people in the village came to ask which county and village my second aunt was from. They thought that the girls in our village must be beautiful and wanted to propose marriage to her."
"Life became difficult later on, and people grew old. Look at Xiao'e. She was a lovely girl when she was young, but she suffered a lot with me. Now people outside would say that she has a bad face and will have difficulty giving birth."
Zhang Shiyue's eyes were gentle: "Fortunately, I came back and met you two, and Old Four."
"That's why people look good or bad. Very few are born with extremely good looks. It all depends on how they live and how they are raised." Zhang Shiyue said with a smile, "I don't know what you looked like before, but now you look like a guy that everyone in the neighborhood wants to marry."
Xu He's ears turned red. He had only heard such words from the nonsense-talking Zhang Fangyuan. He felt embarrassed and thought that Zhang Shiyue treated her as his own child, so he thought the best of her.
But I was still very happy to hear such words.
"Hey, I'm busy talking. There's a melon farmer outside. I came to ask if he wants to buy some melons."
Xu He followed him out. In summer, there was an abundance of fruits and vegetables. An old farmer wearing a bamboo hat picked some watermelons and crispy sweet pears.
"Watermelons are three cents a pound. Buy two more and keep them in stock. You can cut a plate for guests when they come." The old farmer held a watermelon and patted it, letting Xu He hear: "They are all ripe and very sweet."
Zhang Fangyuan is a glutton and eats everything. He also bought some watermelons to share at home. They cost five or six cents per pound in the city. Xu He listened to the price given by the old farmer and actually bought at the price quoted, which was the price bought in the village.
"I didn't bid. I'm from Hongshi Village, two villages away. I want to do long-term business with you, young master. If you want fruits for your tea stall, I'll send them to you at the lowest price. We also have peaches, plums, and bayberries in the village!"
Xu He glanced at Zhang Shiyue, and both of them were tempted. If they sold some cut watermelons at noon, there would still be many people willing to buy them.
"Then order a dozen kilograms, and buy more after they're sold. But I don't know how to contact the old man."
Seeing that the business was successful, the old farmer's eyes wrinkled and he said, "It's easy to contact. I go to the city to sell melons almost every day. I'll ask when I pass by here on my way back. If the tea shed wants me, I'll go back and pick fresh ones and send them to you."
Xu He saw that the old melon farmer also had his own ox cart, and the fruits would be easy to transport, so he agreed immediately. Sell what you can, and take less if you can't. Although the profit is small, it is an extra source of income. Small businesses rely on accumulating a few cents.
While carrying the melons into the house, Xu He also asked the old farmer to have a cup of tea.
Fifteen pounds of watermelon cost another forty-five cents. Xu He looked at the copper coins in the cash box and felt miserable. He didn't earn much but spent it quickly.
He discovered that it was actually very convenient to buy things along the official road, and that he could spend money faster than in the city.
Before he could worry for a while, another customer came. This time he met a few peddlers who wanted to prepare some dry food.
While people were taking a break and drinking tea, Xu He immediately made a few large pancakes and wrapped them up.
The peddler who was waiting for dry food took the heavy cake and felt very secure, as if a quilt was pressing on his body. He was a little surprised that the tea stall here was so honest.
"What is the name of this teahouse here?"
"Rongyi Tea House, under the old banyan tree."
The peddler nodded, and the few people greeted each other and continued on their journey.
There were not many people eating at the teahouse at lunchtime. Unlike the inn, where one could stay overnight, it was getting late and passers-by were all rushing back, so there was not much business.
Most of the people passing by were villagers returning home from nearby areas. Xu He planned to make some tofu and sell it in his free time. Sometimes the villagers would buy some and cook it at home to satisfy their cravings.
In the afternoon, Zhang Fangyuan only sold two kilograms of meat. It was getting late, so Xu He collected the meat and prepared to cook some dishes. The family ate here and then went home.
Xu He saw a familiar figure coming from afar. It was her mother Liu Xianglan, carrying a backpack.
From a distance you can see that there are some vegetables inside.
Xu He knew that her mother would not go to the official road for no reason, and she must be coming for the tea stall.
"Your father said you were opening your business today, so he asked me to pick some vegetables and send them over."
She had come to see the tea shed once when it was being repaired before, but this was her first time coming after it was completed. She put down her backpack and started looking around.
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