"They actually sell seafood here?" Looking at the basket full of lively shrimp, ribbonfish, scallops, and various kinds of conch, I was full of surprise.
The fishmonger laughed, "Our Guyang County is by the sea, what's so strange about that! Would you like to buy some, young lady? I brought them back from the beach early this morning, they're all very fresh!"
"How much?"
"Two catties for one coin."
Two catties for one coin? Two catties of seafood cost the same as a piece of pastry? So cheap?
The man seemed to sense Jiang Shan's doubt and said with a wry smile, "These fish and shrimp are not easy to keep alive. They are either tasteless and not very tasty, or they are too fishy and hard to sell. I'm just trying to earn some travel expenses and hard-earned money. I don't expect to make any money."
Jiang Shan pondered for a moment and asked, "Uncle, how often do you set up your stall in town? If I want to buy something in the future, will you still sell it to me? Do you have any other kinds of goods?"
The man's dark face immediately lit up with joy. "Whatever the girl wants, I can bring it to you anytime! You can have anything you want, as long as it's not some rare item, I can find it for you!"
Jiang Shan was overjoyed and put down his load, saying to the man, "Uncle, I'll take all of these things. Wait for me a moment, I'll go buy some seasonings for marinating seafood. I'll trouble you to take them home for me later, as I can't carry them all."
It's not that she can't pick them out, it's just that she can't stand the smell of fish at this time of day.
The man nodded frantically while wiping his sweat.
In less than half an hour, Jiang Shan came running over carrying big bags and small bags, his little face flushed, but he was extremely happy.
"Uncle, let's go!"
An hour later, Jiang Shan returned to the village with the middle-aged fishmonger.
Unsurprisingly, Jiangshan once again became the target of an attack.
"Look, everyone come and take a look! She brought a man with her again this time, and he's almost as old as her father!"
"Oh dear, this time they brought home rotten shrimp and fish. They're rushing to bring home unwanted junk!"
"Shameless little whore, she's completely disgraced Huaigu Village!"
"I told you long ago, the old man in the Jiao family is a scoundrel, and the young one is a vixen. I was right!"
"I don't know what that little vixen is up to now, making my silly boy climb the wall every day!"
"...!"
The fishmonger became increasingly uneasy as he listened, and eventually even he couldn't hold back anymore, while the little girl acted as if nothing had happened.
"Girl, they... they all live in the same village, they see each other all the time, why would they...!"
"Uncle, ignore them, let them talk nonsense. Look, my house is just ahead, we're here."
Jiao's mother and Jiao Sanlang had already come out to greet them. Jiao's mother was about to step forward to help Jiang Shan unload the load from his shoulders when she saw a strange man there, so she retreated.
“Mother, I bought fish and shrimp from this uncle, and he kindly brought them back for me. Uncle, please weigh them, and I'll give you the money right away. Sanlang, go and pour a bowl of water for the uncle.”
Fifty-odd catties of fish, rounded down, fifty catties, twenty-five coins.
Jiang Shan took out five extra coins and handed them to the man, smiling, "Uncle, thank you for making this trip! I'll need your help to prepare more fresh goods for me in the future, please!"
The man happily accepted the money, carefully put it into his purse, bowed to the family, and turned to leave.
Looking at the several baskets full of fish, shrimp, and shellfish, Jiao's mother was filled with worry.
This stuff doesn't taste good, and it doesn't keep well. All that money was wasted!
She couldn't blame Jiang Shan, and she was at a loss for what to do, so she felt nothing but bitterness in her heart and mouth.
Jiao Sanlang had already pinched his nose and retreated a long way, revealing his two big, bright black eyes as he stared blankly at Jiang Shan.
Jiang Shan looked at this and then at that, touched his nose, and said with a sheepish smile, "Mother, Sanlang, don't worry, I will earn this money back, and these ingredients will not be wasted. Trust me."
This didn't sound very plausible at all, so not only Jiao's mother, but even Sanlang turned his face away.
Jiang Shan understood that even if ancient people lived by the sea, unsophisticated country folk couldn't really make many delicious seafood dishes, which could be considered a waste of resources.
It's okay, with her modern soul around, she can make a Manchu Han Imperial Feast out of seafood!
Jiang Shan spent a whole day and night washing and marinating the shrimp and shellfish, then put them in the well in the backyard. He also cleaned the ribbonfish, marinated it briefly, and picked some wild onions from the yard.
After doing all that, she was so tired that she could barely stand up straight.
She repeatedly vomited desperately behind Jiao's mother and Sanlang's backs, then turned her head to wipe away her tears, stuffed a handful of chili peppers into her nose, and continued working.
How could she not be tired! Her body was still small, and with the added discomfort of pregnancy, she craved the love and care of her family more than anyone else, and needed rest even more.
She also understood that no matter how hard or tiring it was, she had to support this family!
Jiao's mother gently massaged her lower back with concern, and couldn't help but complain, "Shan'er, you're still pregnant, don't overwork yourself! These seafood products might not sell well, so don't be too anxious. You can't let the baby in your belly suffer."
Jiang Shan smiled bitterly and remained silent, feeling inevitably disappointed.
In Jiao's mother's eyes, she always thought about this child.
But she didn't want this child!
She must terminate the pregnancy within a month at most, otherwise it will be more harmful to her body to terminate it when the child is older.
Jiao Sanlang, watching from the side, said softly, "Mother, please let my sister rest for a while. She's too tired!"
When Jiang Shan woke up from his nap, it was already broad daylight.
She pulled the pickled seafood out of the well and, thank goodness, it hadn't spoiled.
The temperature inside the well is lower than the outside temperature, which maximizes the freshness of the seafood, and that's half the battle won.
With her special seasoning, she has no worries about selling her seafood salad.
When Jiang Shan coaxed Jiao's mother and Jiao Sanlang into eating a raw marinated shrimp that was thicker than a finger, their eyes lit up.
"Sister, this shrimp is so delicious!" Jiao Sanlang reached out his hand towards a whelk.
After finishing the meal, her smile widened even more.
"Mother, this is delicious too! And this one too!" Before he finished speaking, Jiao Sanlang had already finished eating three more sea snails.
Jiangshan stopped him when his claws reached for the shrimp again.
"Your digestive system hasn't recovered yet, so you can't eat too much raw or marinated seafood! Tonight I'll steam some prawns with egg custard, and you can eat a few more then."
Jiang Shan took Jiao Sanlang with him, carrying their loads, and went to town.
These days she teaches Sanlang to count and some simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division every day, so he can easily help her collect money.
The siblings went straight to the restaurant in town, but were refused entry by the owner.
No matter how hard Jiang Shan tried to explain her seafood hotpot, the shopkeeper ignored her and ordered his staff to kick them out immediately.
This is practically stealing our business; it's no wonder we're not going to give her a friendly look!
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