Chapter 93 Grilled fish. Buying a shop.
Summer passes and autumn comes.
The entire Yuanxiang Town gradually regained its former vitality, as if the plague of the previous few months was just a dream.
But it did have an impact. When Qiu Xuan went out on the street this time, she found that many shops were closed.
I heard from the real estate agent that some of the owners have passed away, and some have no money to rent a property.
Qiu Xuan asked about the prices one by one. Now, whether renting or buying, it is much cheaper than a few months ago.
Take the bun shop she is still renting, for example; it would only cost twenty taels if she bought it now.
Qiu Xuan negotiated a lower price and finally closed the deal at eighteen taels of silver.
This price has never been seen in previous years.
"Shopkeeper Qiu, are you still planning to rent the courtyard you're staying in? I have several more courtyards in town, and the price is right."
After the plague, people's lives were very hard, and the brokers could only rely on merchants like Qiu Xuan to make money.
Every time he closes a deal, he earns a few extra coins.
"I won't look at the yard anymore, but if the place I live in now can be cheaper, I might consider buying it."
In fact, Qiu Xuan didn't have that much money on hand now. She had spent a lot on medical treatment a few days ago, and now she had spent a lot on buying the shop.
What's left in my pocket is not enough.
But what if the whole family gets together? Qiu Xuan had never thought of this before, but now she has changed.
Thinking about everything in the dream, thinking about how we will all live together in the years to come.
Qiu Xuan felt that the yard was worth buying.
Especially at a time like this, although it is a bit of taking advantage of the situation, it is not easy for anyone.
"Okay, then I'll ask you in the next few days."
Qiu Xuan didn't let the broker take her back to the restaurant, she walked back to the restaurant by herself.
She hadn't been out for three months, so she felt very tired after walking such a long distance.
Qiu Xuan felt that she needed to exercise. If she continued like this, how would she make money in the future?
As soon as she pushed open the door of the restaurant, she saw Sanshui carrying the fish and about to walk out.
"Boss." Sanshui shouted with a smile.
In fact, Qiu Xuan hadn't seen San Shui for quite some time. She did hear from Zong Xiao that when the plague came, San Shui went to the Tian family.
Seeing his happy face, Qiu Xuan asked, "But are we going to the Tian family?"
"Nothing can be hidden from the shopkeeper. I'm going to deliver fish to Madam Tian."
"Go ahead and say hello to Mrs. Tian for me."
Qiu Xuan had never actually met Mrs. Tian, but she was so kind, so she must be a good person.
Qiu Xuan walked around the front of the shop and then went to the backyard.
Before I even entered, I could smell a strong fishy smell.
Zong Xiao and Zong Anji were squatting on the ground processing the fish in the bamboo basket. Qiu Xuan saw that there were about four or five fish.
I think Zong Xiao caught it early this morning when he went into the mountains.
"Second sister-in-law, you came back so quickly." Zong Anji was processing fish, and his hands were covered with fish scales.
Qiu Xuan didn't get too close. She stood by the door, watching them both and asked, "Why did you think of catching fish today? Did you catch that fish Sanshui just now?"
Zong Xiao pushed the remaining fish in front of Zong Anji, then stood up and washed his hands in the wooden basin.
"I happened to see Fushun fishing, so I asked him to be my companion."
Speaking of which, Fushun also has a connection with them and has helped them several times.
They met again today, so Zong Xiao followed him and asked him how he was doing recently.
This time the plague was severe, Zong Xiao hadn't returned to the mountain yet, and he didn't know how the people there were doing.
Qiu Xuan handed him the soap nuts and asked him to scrub them a few more times.
The fishy smell is too strong to be washed off with just water.
"The situation in the mountains isn't much better than down there. I heard a lot of people are missing in the mountains too."
It might be okay if they never left the mountain, but most people here would go down the mountain to buy things.
How could we possibly avoid this plague? Besides, there were few doctors in the mountains and no medicine, so we all just had to endure it.
Many elderly and weak people could not make it.
"Let's go back to the mountain when we have time." Although Qiu Xuan didn't like many people there, the clan's roots and the old house were there after all.
They have to go back and take a look.
Zong Xiao washed his hands and sniffed them first. Seeing that there was no strange smell, he walked over to Qiu Yu.
"I have to go back. Third Aunt is gone." He said in a light tone, as if the person who died was just an insignificant person.
"She's dead?" Qiu Yu was surprised.
Zong Anji nodded and said, "It was said that he died a few days ago. Aunt Feng told us."
"I thought the plague had passed for some time, but I didn't expect it to still be here."
Qiu Xuan really didn't expect that someone would die in the third branch of the Zong family.
She still remembered the time she saw them late at night a few months ago. Those people had red faces and spoke wildly.
I didn't expect that.
"I heard it wasn't an epidemic," Zong Xiao explained. "It was a fever, and they didn't treat it, so they died."
This matter is actually quite embarrassing, and Aunt Feng said it in a tactful way.
I'll know the details when I return to the village.
"Do we still have to go to the funeral even if we split up?" Qiu Xuan frowned slightly. She was actually a little reluctant to go.
"We're not going to a funeral, we're going to burn paper for Dad and my eldest brother and his wife."
People should go up the mountain to burn paper during the Ghost Festival, but the plague was not over at that time, so no one went into the mountain. They just burned some paper on the roadside.
But later, the grandmother had the same dream for several days in a row. In the dream, the eldest brother and his wife were wearing tattered clothes and eating cold steamed buns.
The clan mother always felt that the money did not reach them, so she had to go into the mountains.
It's just that the two things happened to happen at the same time.
After hearing this, Qiu Xuan finally understood what it meant.
"Okay then, let's go buy some valuables and go into the mountains tomorrow?"
"Um."
It was almost noon when Zong Anji finally finished processing all the fish.
He brought an iron rack, skewered the two fish and placed them on it.
They still had grilled fish today, but they ate it secretly.
The people at home didn't know about it. Zong Anji was afraid that Yueyang would get a sore throat after eating it, so he simply didn't tell them.
But there was a lot of fish meat, so he thought of bringing two back in the evening and making fish soup for everyone.
Qiu Xuan happened to come today, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to eat.
"If I hadn't come, would you have kept it a secret like your brother did?" Qiu Xuan twisted Zong Xiao's arm, but she didn't use much force.
"No." Zong Xiao took advantage of Zong Anji's back to lean over and whisper in Qiu Yu's ear, "I told you I won't hide anything from you."
When this was mentioned, Qiu Xuan couldn't help but think of the lies she had told.
Her face turned red instantly, and she didn't ask any further questions.
But when it comes to eating grilled fish, Qiu Xuan has another idea.
She rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen, lit the fire, heated the pot, and put the food in the pot.
"Second sister-in-law, why are you cooking again? These two fish are enough for us to eat." Zong Anji smelled the aroma of chili peppers, and he hurried in, trying to persuade her.
Qiu Xuan didn't stop working. She pointed to the washed potatoes and lotus root slices beside her and said, "Cut those into slices and put them in the pot later."
Zong Anji didn't understand, but did as he was told.
Qiu Xuan added two spoonfuls of hot water to the pot, waited for him to cut the vegetables, and poured it directly in.
The boiling water marinated the vegetables. Qiu Xuan cooked for a long time until there was not much water left in the pot. Then she asked Zong Xiao to bring in a grilled fish.
The roasted fish exuding a burnt aroma made Zong Anji swallow his saliva.
He thought Qiu Xuan was going to put it on the plate, but he ended up watching Qiu Xuan put the grilled fish into the pot!
Grilled fish turned into iron pot stew?
Can this be delicious?
"Don't look so regretful, try it." Qiu Xuan handed a pair of chopsticks to Zong Anji.
Zong Anji picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth. It was unexpectedly delicious.
The broth soaks through the fish giving it a hint of spiciness, while the burnt aroma is still there!
Zong Anji immediately added a potato, followed by lotus root slices...
They are all delicious, and the taste is completely different from simply stir-frying with chili peppers.
"Second sister-in-law, how did you come up with this idea?" Zong Anji's eyes lit up. If such a delicious dish was sold outside, he would surely make a fortune.
Especially now they need money!
Qiu Xuan accepted the compliment without hesitation. She smiled and said, "As long as you think it tastes good, that's fine. When the weather gets colder, we can just introduce this dish."
When the weather gets cold, dishes with some soup become people's favorite food.
Plus, it contains chili peppers, so you're guaranteed to sweat after eating it.
"It's sure to make money!" Zong Anji ate two more pieces. It was not until Sanshui came back that they brought the dishes to the table and ate together.
Sanshui can't eat spicy food very well. After eating two bites, he has to drink half a bowl of water.
"If you can't eat, cook some noodles later." Qiu Yu couldn't bear to watch it and couldn't help but persuade him.
"Boss, I can do it." Sanshui took a breath and added another piece of fish.
His mouth was burning and his face was red.
But this fish and this dish are really delicious, the more you eat, the more you enjoy it!
Qiu Xuan was full after a few bites, but she didn't leave the table and continued to sit there watching everyone eat.
"Oh, right, boss." Sanshui's lips were swollen before he put down his chopsticks. He said, "I went to the Tian family today. Mrs. Tian said she plans to sell the shop next year. She wanted to know if you would like to buy it. If you do, the price is negotiable."
"Selling the shop?" Qiu Xuan remembered that the Tian family didn't have many businesses. Apart from dozens of acres of land, this was their only source of income.
Sanshui nodded. "Young Master Tian is going to the capital to study next year, and Madam Tian plans to go with him. This trip will take at least one or two years. Madam Tian said that the cost of living in the capital is high, so she is thinking of selling the shop."
They had inquired before renting the shop and found out that if they bought it, the minimum price would be two hundred taels.
At that time they had no money and could not afford it.
Now...
Qiu Xuan still has no money.
But this shop is in a good location and has a good reputation. It would be a big loss if I don’t buy it.
Qiu Xuan: "Mrs. Tian, can you please agree on the price?"
Sanshui rubbed his lips and gestured with his other hand.
Qiu Xuan saw clearly that it was one hundred and fifty taels.
But this is too much, she has no money, and she also wants that yard...
"Okay, let me think about it, and then I'll go there myself." In the evening, the three of them, who had eaten and drunk their fill, drove the mule cart home.
Zong Anji was sitting in the front. He turned his head and asked, "Second sister-in-law, should we buy that shop? I still have some money on hand, we can pool our money together."
"I thought so too." After saying this, Qiu Xuan remembered that there was something she hadn't told them.
She lowered her head and took out the deed from her purse. "This is what I just bought today, the little bun shop."
"!! Bought a bun shop?" Zong Anji was so excited that he almost let go of the reins.
"Eighteen taels, I think it's a good deal."
"This is too good a deal, it's no different from giving it away for free."
Zong Xiao raised his hand and slapped him on the back of the head, reminding him to look at the road ahead.
At home, the mother had prepared dinner early. When she saw them carrying the fish, she was so angry that she slapped Zong Anji twice.
"You didn't even mention coming back early when you had fish. You all go hungry for now. I'll go make some fish soup."
Zong Anji felt very aggrieved and wanted to explain that this had nothing to do with him.
But when he raised his head and wanted Qiu Xuan and Zong Xiao to help him say something.
Those two had long since disappeared.
At this moment, Qiu Xuan and the others had already run to the corridor. She supported Zong Xiao, bent down and said with a smile, "Fortunately, we ran fast."
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