Chapter 7: Double Confinement
There was a wide scarf on the mule's back, with tightly wrapped jars of hot soy milk hanging at both ends. Shu Tong was carrying a bamboo basket with hot fried dough sticks inside, which was tightly wrapped in a clean thick bundle by the second lady.
The fried dough sticks and soy milk wouldn't get cold for a while, but Shu Tong was completely confused. He stared blankly at the second lady who was wrapped tightly and sitting on the mule's back, "Second lady, are you really going?"
"If I don't go, will you sell it?"
Shutong: ...
When I was young, I was a schoolboy. When I grew up, I sent my master to work. I was good at grinding ink and running errands to serve my master, but I didn’t do business! No, I did. I even sold two stone paintings a few days ago!
When he thought of the eight taels of silver he had earned, Shu Tong suddenly became clear-headed, his eyes lit up, "Second Madam, how much can we earn today?"
Su Ruojin didn't want to discourage others, but how much could 100 fried dough sticks and two jars of soy milk sell for? She had to remind the excited Shu Tongshu: "Uncle, our business today is a lot of accumulation, and you have to work hard!"
"It's not hard... It's not hard..." It's just carrying a basket of fried dough sticks, it's very light.
Su Ruojin looked at the basket held high by Shu Tong and smiled slightly. This is just the beginning!
Shu Tong had never done business, but as Su Yanli's servant, he did odd jobs and ran errands, and he had bought countless things for his master, including meals, snacks, and drinks from vendors. He had seen a pig run, but he had never eaten pork.
Su Ruojin got off the mule and reached out to take out a fried dough stick to show and sell.
Let’s not talk about the fact that the Second Lady is his young mistress. Even if she isn’t, he wouldn’t let a young lady of a few years old sell things.
Shu Tong was not embarrassed at all, "Second Madam, I'll sell it."
What can or cannot be said? He recalled what the vendors called when he went shopping in the past. After thinking for a few breaths, Shu Tong's shouting came out: "A fluffy and crispy big fried dough stick costs three cents, and a cup of sweet and hot soy milk costs three cents... Take a look... Take a look... You can eat it in your hand, it's convenient, fast and saves trouble..."
Su Ruojin was really afraid that Uncle Shu Tong would be embarrassed to ask him, but she didn't expect him to get the hang of it right away. It seems that Uncle Shu Tong has a talent for business! Thinking of stone painting, she did give some advice, but if there is no talent, you can't sell it even if you say it dryly.
From what we have observed in recent years, Uncle Shu Tong has a clever mind, but he has few opportunities for development. But now, Su Ruojin is calculating very well. Her father is a teacher, and her mother never leaves the house. If she wants to do business to support the family, Uncle Shu Tong is the best helper. Otherwise, Su Ruojin would not have started her business while her mother was in confinement after giving birth.
The entrance to the alley chosen by Su Ruojin has the Imperial College, South City District, and South City Gate to the south, the Military Academy to the east, the Imperial Street to the north, the Three Ministries, Five Institutions, and Nine Temples, and a residential area to the west of the alley. She had long coveted this prime business location.
Finally, she is here!
The Dayin Dynasty was similar to the Song Dynasty, with developed commerce. Whether it was ordinary people, small vendors, or court officials, many people did not eat at home in a hurry, but would buy breakfast on the road to fill their stomachs.
The students didn't have to talk much. People gathered around them when they smelled the aroma of the fried dough sticks. "This breakfast is fresh. It's not as thin as Sanzi, but not as oily as fruit. It's quite novel. Give me one. If it tastes good, I'll bring some for my classmates."
"Okay!" Shu Tong quickly took a small oil paper bag, picked up the fried dough sticks with chopsticks, and put them into the bag. His fingers did not touch the food at all during the whole process. The young man who bought the fried dough sticks nodded with satisfaction.
"Young sir, would you like a drink with the fried dough sticks?" Shu Tong did not forget to introduce the soy milk and quickly opened the jar. Hot steam came out and a sweet fragrance suddenly burst out in the cold and oily air.
This caused the young man to shout cheerfully, "Give me a drink."
"Okay!" Shu Tong nimbly picked up the long wooden spoon with a thin handle and scooped it up. After two scoops, the oil paper cup was full. "Young master, hold it carefully. Be careful of the heat."
The young man took it and took a big sip: "Wow, it's so hot, so good." The young man took out a handful of copper coins and said, "See how many fried dough sticks and soy milk I can buy?"
Shu Tong quickly counted the copper coins and said, "Young Master, you can buy three more sets. Here is the extra copper coin. Take it."
Su Ruojin didn't need to worry about anything. Uncle Shutong was selling fried dough sticks with full enthusiasm as if he had been injected with chicken blood. She watched him selling with squinting eyes while observing people's acceptance of fried dough sticks and soy milk.
We set out at the beginning of the Mao hour (5 a.m.) and arrived at the entrance of the alley at around 5:30.
There is an old saying - roll call.
What is Dianmao? It means that court officials report for duty at the Mao hour. Generally, Dianmao refers to the end of the Mao hour, which is 7 o'clock in the morning.
Su Ruojin's 100 fried dough sticks and two jars of soy milk were sold out in less than a quarter of an hour, without even waiting until the time of day.
The person behind was surprised: "That's it?" Perhaps because he was in a hurry, he shook his head and left quickly.
Shutong looked at the little master at the wall and smiled helplessly, "There are not enough to sell."
It's normal that they don't sell well! Youtiao and soy milk are the official delicious breakfast for Chinese people. If they don't sell well, Su Ruojin will cry!
When Su Yanli got up, his servant Shutong and second daughter were not at home. He thought they were going to the market to buy food like they did in the past few days. He first went to his two sons' room, took care of them getting up, and then took them to the kitchen to have breakfast together.
Lifting the lid of the big pot, on the bamboo grate were hot sweet drinks and fried big fruits. Seeing his daughter's breakfast change, Su Yanli smiled happily and sadly, took out the grate, and called his sons to eat breakfast: "Da Lang, San Lang, sit down."
The two brothers of the Su family had already smelled the fragrant fried dough sticks and soy milk, and they were choking on their saliva. They quickly sat down at the table, holding the bowl in one hand and the fried dough stick in the other, and took a bite. Wow, it was delicious!
It is fluffy, crispy and chewy. After finishing it in one bite, the sweet taste lingers between your teeth. It is so delicious that the two brothers couldn't stop eating it.
Seeing that his sons were enjoying the meal, Su Yanli took a sip of the drink to moisten his throat. It tasted like soybean paste, but without the fishy smell. It was sweet and delicious.
It was not until the evening when Su Yanli came back from his shift and asked why the fried fruits in the morning were so big and so delicious. Shu Tong and Su Ruojin were stunned at first, and then laughed out loud.
Su Dalang already knew that this was not a big fruit, but was called fried dough sticks.
"Dough sticks?" Su Yanli thought about it carefully. It was long and could indeed be called a dough stick.
Su Ruojin and others were all delighted again.
Since everyone loved it, Su Ruojin increased the amount of food she took out every day. She also started buying stoves and pots, and ordered a cart so that there would be a place to put the household items and it would be convenient for her to travel back and forth.
By the time all these things were ready, Cheng Yingzhen was also one month old. On the one hand, it might be because she had given birth too many times, and on the other hand, it might be because the weather was too cold. Although Su Ruojin took good care of her with confinement meals, tea and snacks, she was still not in good spirits.
Su Ruojin asked her to stay in confinement for two months.
(End of this chapter)
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