Chapter 21. Spaghetti Bolognese. Buy a mule.
As noon approached, more and more people came into the town.
Zong Xiao was not in a hurry to buy anything. He took the two of them to the most famous restaurant in town.
This restaurant is famous not only for its delicious food, but also for the best prices in the whole town.
Take a bowl of vegetarian noodles for example. Other shops would charge at least seven cents for it, but they only charge five cents.
Qiu Xuan blinked and whispered, "Won't you get beaten? It's so much cheaper than other restaurants."
Zong Xiao stretched out his index finger and waved it in front of her eyes. "This restaurant has been open for many years, and the prices of food have basically never increased. Even the county magistrate has eaten here. Who would dare to deliberately cause trouble?"
After hearing what he said, Qiu Xuan looked around and saw that the table that was empty just now was now occupied.
Looking at it this way, this restaurant's business is indeed quite good.
"Waiter, give me two bowls of braised meat noodles and a bowl of wontons." Zong Xiao took out his purse and counted out twenty-six copper coins.
Qiu Xuan actually didn't have much of an appetite. Although it was just a false alarm, she still hadn't recovered.
"Two bowls will be enough. I'm not too hungry yet," she said.
Zong Xiao didn't respond and gave the copper coins to the waiter. "Just think of it as a taste. You'll be hungry soon after walking all this way."
Zong Huaixue was next to Qiu Yu, and she responded, "Aunt, don't be afraid of spending money, I have money in my pocket."
After saying that, the little girl took out a whole tael of silver from the small bag hanging on her chest.
Qiu Xuan was startled and quickly stuffed the silver back into her bag.
Money should not be revealed, especially when it is spent on children. She whispered, "This money was given by your grandma."
"Well, grandma said that this is the money to buy things today." The little girl took off the small bag and pushed it in front of Qiu Xuan, "Auntie, take it."
Qiu Xuan looked at Zong Xiao and gave him a wink.
He has to keep the money whether he spends it or not. It's not safe outside. If a thief steals the money, he will have nowhere to cry.
"Okay, I'll listen to your grandma." Zong Xiao put the silver and the small bag into his purse.
After a while, three bowls of steaming hot food were served on the table.
That bowl of wontons was ordered for the little girl. There were twelve wontons in it. Although each one was not very big, they were filled with meat.
"Auntie, this is delicious, please try it." The little girl scooped out one with a small spoon, blew on it, and then handed it to Qiu Xuan's mouth.
Qiu Xuan hadn't eaten wontons for a long time, and she didn't taste any flavor this time.
The wonton was so small that it seemed to be gone in just a few bites. However, she still coaxed it, "It's really delicious. Eat it slowly and don't be in a hurry."
While the two of them were talking, Zong Xiao went to the front and asked for two small bowls.
He picked out some noodles from his bowl and pushed it in front of the little girl.
The little girl understood what she meant at a glance. She used a spoon to scoop out four or five wontons and also took a few spoonfuls of soup. "Auntie, you eat."
"Eat." Zong Xiao nodded at her, "Half a bowl of wontons and a small half bowl of noodles, it's enough for Huaixue."
Qiu Xuan sighed in her heart. There was enough food for the little girl Huaixue, but if she was given the food, she might not be able to finish it.
Qiu Xuan didn't want to waste the food. This bowl of noodles cost several cents. She reached out and exchanged her untouched noodles with Zong Xiao.
"Just eat it like this." She blocked it with her body, as if she was afraid that Zong Xiao would switch over again.
Roulu Mian, as its name suggests, is made with meat sauce. Qiu Xuan took a bite and found it somewhat different from her usual fried bean paste noodles: the sauce flavor was lighter and the meat cubes were smaller.
But this noodle was very popular. By the time she finished her bowl, at least ten people in the restaurant had ordered this noodle.
"Are there any other restaurants in town that sell braised meat noodles?" Qiu Xuan wiped her mouth and asked him.
"Yes, this braised pork noodle is also sold at ordinary stalls." Zong Xiao pointed to the stall outside the window, "Those on the street also sell it, but the taste is a bit worse."
Qiu Xuan looked at the people coming and going in the restaurant and had the idea of selling food.
She was sure that the braised meat she fried was more fragrant than this. If she were to sell braised meat noodles, the business would definitely be good.
But as soon as this thought came to her mind, she gave up.
The town is full of all kinds of people. If she, a girl, goes out alone, she might be kidnapped, not to mention selling food.
"Do you like it?" Zong Xiao saw her pursed lips, not knowing what she was thinking. "There's a place selling sauce in town. Let's buy a jar and take it back."
"Is it expensive?" Qiu Xuan is now concerned about the price. If it is expensive, there is no need to buy it. It is better to go home and make the sauce herself. She knows how to make Northeastern soybean paste!
Zong Xiao: “Not expensive.”
Noon is the time when restaurants are full. This shop is doing good business. There is a queue outside at this time. Although it is not long, the queue is still enviable.
As soon as Huaixue finished eating, the three of them quickly made room for the people outside.
After leaving the restaurant, they wandered along the street. Two of them had never been here before, and everything here seemed new to them.
When they saw the stalls, they couldn't help but go up to take a look. They spent the whole street shopping and strolling for a whole incense stick of time.
When they turned to another street, Qiu Xuan had a bamboo cage in her hand, with five little hens in it.
After the family split up, Zong Xiao didn't want the livestock in the backyard. Originally, those chickens and ducks were raised by Zong's mother herself. In addition to selling them for some money, they were also used to nourish Huaixue's body.
Now that they have separated and are living on their own, Zong Xiao feels that he still needs to raise chickens, so he bought five as soon as he saw them.
He originally wanted to buy more, but Qiu Xuan was afraid that he couldn't keep them alive, so he only bought five.
In addition, I also bought sauces and pastries.
I bought a lot of cakes and spent a few dollars.
My grandmother will be going to the Liu family to propose marriage in a few days, so this thing is indispensable.
Of course, Zong Xiao also bought the brown sugar and red cloth that his mother asked him to buy.
When buying brown sugar, Zong Xiao bought an extra piece. It was a good thing. If you were sick, you'd have a bowl of sugar syrup and eggs, and you'd be almost back to health by the next day. Plus, this syrup replenished Qi and blood, so he figured it wouldn't hurt to let Qiu Xuan drink more.
By the time the three of them finished shopping, Qiu Xuan's legs were weak.
But the little girl was fine and was happily urging Zong Xiao to change her hair flower.
A pink muslin hairband, three cents, Zong Xiao bought it for her when she just passed by the stall.
The little girl likes it so much that she can't wait to wear it when she gets home.
While the two of them were putting on their hair ornaments, Qiu Xuan leaned against the wall and took a short rest.
Not only were her legs weak, but her feet also hurt. If she continued walking, her feet would get blisters by the evening.
But she was too embarrassed to ask someone to carry her on her back, and the mountain road was so long...
"The land for selling livestock is in front. Let's go and take a look." Zong Xiao said, looking at her legs.
"Do you want to buy it?" Qiu Xuan asked on the way here. She didn't really want to buy it.
After all, whether it is a mule or a cow, they are expensive items, and it costs several taels of silver to buy them.
Besides, they had just separated, and she felt it was inappropriate to buy livestock back at this time.
Zong Xiao noticed her concerns, he walked forward, squatted down, and reached out to rub her legs.
"Let's go take a look first. If I find something suitable, I can buy it." Zong Xiao was secretly glad that he had brought all the money with him when he went out today.
The land for selling livestock was fenced off separately, and as soon as the three of them entered, several people surrounded them.
Some introduced their own cows, some introduced their own mules, but the prices were not the same as what Zong Xiao mentioned when he came.
At that time he said cows were more expensive, but when I asked, I found out that mules are much more expensive than cows.
A better mule could even buy two cows.
"This mule of mine is five taels and six cents. Look how strong its legs are. It's only four years old." The man selling the mule saw Zong Xiao looking at him and hurried to sell it.
When Qiu Xuan heard the price, she shook her head.
It’s too expensive. There’s really no need to spend all my savings to buy it.
"Can it be cheaper?" Zong Xiao walked over and touched the mule. It was indeed strong. He had seen many mules along the way, but this one was the most satisfactory.
"You've asked a lot of people, and you know the price. I'm not charging too much. I can't get any cheaper."
Seeing this, Qiu Xuan advised, "Forget it, the price is really high, let's not buy it."
Qiu Xuan really didn't want to buy it, but when Zong Xiao heard this, he thought she was deliberately trying to lower the price.
Zong Xiao pretended to be embarrassed when he saw this, "Forget it then."
After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave.
Seeing them about to leave, the mule seller grabbed Zong Xiao's sleeve and said, "Five taels and five cents. No less!"
Five taels and five cents is expensive, Qiu Xuan secretly complained in her heart, only a fool would buy it.
Unexpectedly, the next second the person next to him said, "Okay, but you have to give me the cart as well."
The man selling the mule originally sold the mule and the cart together. When he heard what he said, he immediately agreed.
"It's too expensive!" Qiu Xuan pulled him back and said, "If you're going to buy one, you might as well buy a cow."
"We don't have much land at home, so buying a cow won't be of much use." Zong Xiao leaned sideways, facing Qiu Xuan with the side of his face without the scar. He smiled and said, "Mules run fast. We can ride one home soon."
When Qiu Xuan saw him secretly glance at his legs, she couldn't help but understand why he insisted on buying a mule today.
She looked at him, her eyes full of gratitude.
Zong Xiao is really a good person.
The author has something to say:
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Zong Xiao: I got a good person card
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