Chapter 31
On Sang Luo's side, Chen An sent Shen Jinge away and turned around to help his sister-in-law carry things into the house.
When they found out that the two new buckets were bought by their sister-in-law today, they took away the small baskets on top of the buckets and found several liters of millet and corn bones inside. They were so excited that they almost jumped up.
Sang Luo saw that the two children were busy filling the grain bag and hadn't noticed the Hu pancake stuffed in the side. She took out the oil paper bag and said, "Come and see what this is."
The brother and sister turned their heads together, and saw an oil paper bag with some oil stains in the hand of their eldest sister-in-law. The bag was unfolded by their sister-in-law, revealing more than half a delicious fried cake inside!
"Hu Bing?" Shen An asked uncertainly.
Sang Luo was surprised: "Have you eaten it?"
She remembered that this item was not sold at the market.
The brother and sister nodded at the same time, and then their eyes dimmed a little: "My eldest brother bought it for me."
Well, having two more children reminds me of their eldest brother.
Sang Luo hurriedly diverted their attention: "Go wash your hands and come over to eat the cake. This is more delicious when it's hot. I'll take you to the county to eat freshly baked ones when there's a chance."
Shen An nodded, took Shen Ning out and went to wash his hands.
When they returned to the house, Chen An divided the half cake into three pieces. He handed the largest piece to Sang Luo, but Sang Luo did not take it: "You guys eat it. I've eaten it in the county."
He turned around and went to bed, not caring that he had walked all the way outside today and his clothes were definitely not very clean.
It was really tiring. She had walked twenty miles back and forth carrying the load. Even her hair felt tired. But there was nothing in the room except a bed, not even a stool for people to sit down and rest.
Sang Luo didn't even want to move her fingers at this moment. She just wanted to lie down on the bed and become a soft noodle.
She thought so and did so.
When the brother and sister saw her like this, they stopped eating and came over together. Shen Ning climbed onto the bed and asked, "Sister-in-law, does your foot hurt?"
It looks like he's ready to help pinch it.
Sang Luo was ticklish, so she dodged him quickly: "I'm just tired, don't worry about me, you and Xiao An go eat some cakes."
In the end, neither of the brother and sister listened to her. Shen Ning confirmed it twice, and seeing that her sister-in-law really didn't want her to help massage her legs, she climbed out of bed and turned around to prepare a fire to cook soup.
The radish was left at home for a few days. Sang Luo had said earlier that it could be stewed with corn bones. Now that the corn bones were bought back, Chen Ning didn't even need to ask. It was lunch time, so he arranged the soup that his sister-in-law mentioned.
My sister-in-law is in poor health and has been so tired recently. What if she gets sick again?
It's for my sister-in-law's nourishment.
The brother and sister had a tacit understanding. Shen Ning lit the fire, and Shen An went to get a clean bamboo tube and poured a glass of cold boiled water to Sang Luo and handed it over: "Sister-in-law, drink some water first."
He turned around and went out to fetch water from the clay pot used for cooking and making soup at home, and also took the chopped corn bones out to wash them.
When Chen An came in, Chen Ning had already started the fire and put the earthenware pot on top. Chen Ning turned around and asked Sang Luo, "Sister-in-law, should we put the radish in now?"
Radish, which is the white radish in later generations.
Sang Luo didn't have to make lunch, so she was happy to take a break. She sat up and sipped water while saying, "Wait until the water for cooking bones boils, skim off the foam with a wooden spoon, simmer over low heat, then peel and cut the radish into pieces and put them in. Don't throw away the radish skin, peel it a little thicker, cut it into small pieces, marinate it with a little salt, soy sauce and vinegar, and then we'll eat it with white porridge in the evening."
Pickled radish skins are a side dish that Sang Luo particularly likes. They are delicious and provide calcium. It’s a pity that there are no peppers here and her family doesn’t grow garlic.
This was the first time that Chen An and his sister had heard of this way of eating radish peels, so they wrote it down. One of them watched the fire while the other went out to wash the radishes, peeling them and cutting them into pieces.
This was a laborious job. After all, the family only had sickles, bamboo knives, and stone knives, but no proper kitchen knife. However, the two children had obviously gotten used to using them and were very skilled in doing these tasks, so Sang Luo didn't have to worry too much.
While the bone soup was stewing, the brother and sister did not touch the cake even though they were a little greedy.
Soup with pancakes is a meal. Naturally, you have to wait for the soup to be ready, and then eat it with my sister-in-law and the whole family.
Sitting there doing nothing, Chen An explained to Sang Luo in detail the reason why he hired Shen Jin and others to open up the wasteland with lard residue. After all, he was still nervous and was afraid that his sister-in-law would mind.
All the money in the family was earned by his eldest sister-in-law, and because of the indifference of his third uncle and aunt, his eldest sister-in-law was sick and hungry and almost died. Now he used the money earned by his eldest sister-in-law to buy meat for his cousins, but he was actually very afraid that his eldest sister-in-law would be angry.
I explained the whole process, the consequences, my concerns, and how to deal with the aftermath.
Chen An lowered his head and said, "Xiaoyin and Xiaotie really can't do much work, maybe just two days. When they know that the oil residue is gone, they won't come again."
Shen An's voice was a little weak. He actually had a soft heart towards the two little cousins he had raised.
Sang Luo didn't take it too seriously. One was five years old, and the other was six years old. The five-year-old Chen Tie was still two years old. In later generations, this would be a small class in a kindergarten, and a large class in a kindergarten, just a few pieces of lard. Sang Luo didn't really feel bad or care about it.
Shen An was worried that Shen Jin might be too greedy and sneak into their room, so Sang Luo paid more attention to him.
Indeed, it is impossible for the tofu to be made every day without leaving any traces. She buries the leaf residue in the soil to make fertilizer every time, but the filter cloth has been stained with some color after being used for a long time. Careful people can still guess some tricks.
She also planned to buy a stone mill to make tofu, so that she would have more tools... Sang Luo looked around the thatched house. It was too narrow and didn't even have a proper stove.
To make tofu, you need to boil soy milk. It is not impossible to make it using the temporary stove made of stones and the small pot, but you just can't make much. I don't know how much more effort it will take.
It seems that there must be a kitchen, a courtyard wall, and a lock, otherwise no matter what you do in the future, there will be no privacy at all.
"You're right to worry. You and Aning should pay more attention to the family recently. If Shen Jin is really serious about developing the land, you don't have to feel bad about a few pieces of oil residue. Just give it to him."
Sang Luo did not have enough energy to sell the magical tofu to the county in partnership with the Chen family. Firstly, the journey was longer, and secondly, more magical tofu needed to be made. Planting vegetables also depends on the farming season. If the farming season is missed, some vegetables cannot be harvested even if they are planted.
To be honest, Sang Luo felt a little guilty for exchanging a piece of oil residue for Shen Jin's half-day digging of soil here. This little laborer was exploited a bit. But when she thought about Shen Jin's mouth, the guilt in her heart disappeared instantly.
Little naughty child, one is willing to fight and the other is willing to be beaten, so she won’t get involved.
Chen An was fully affirmed by his sister-in-law, and his heart was at ease, and he was happy again. The sister-in-law not only affirmed him, but also praised him, right? And comforted him, right?
A smile broke out on his face. He turned his back and grinned as he lit the fire, enjoying himself quietly.
Shen Ning was standing close to him, so she turned her head and saw him. She chuckled but didn't expose her brother's silly smile.
…
On the other side, at the Chen family, Qin Fangniang handed over her purse in front of the whole family as if she was presenting a treasure as soon as she got home, and she excitedly said several times that she had earned eighteen cents.
She also took out the small piece of Hu pancake that she had carefully wrapped in several layers, and divided it into five very small pieces. Except for herself who had already tasted it, the rest of the family members got some, and each took a bite to taste it.
She watched them eat, her mouth never closing.
It was too hot at noon. Old Man Chen and Chen Youtian and his son were also at home. The family sat together and listened to Qin Fangniang's eloquent account of her experience of going to the county town today, from how she entered the city, how she heard the gongs, how she entered the East Market, how bustling the East Market was, and how well the magic tofu sold. She was so excited when she spoke.
She especially praised Sangluo for giving her the extra portion of the magical tofu to sell; she praised Sangluo for helping her pay the first round of city tax when she was reluctant to pay it at first, so that she could get off to a good start and build up her courage; she praised Sangluo for thinking of bringing some Hu pancakes for Chen An and his sister when she went to the county, and even gave her a piece.
To sum it up in two words: honest!
At the end, she praised her mother-in-law, who lent a hand when she was in trouble a few days ago. That was why she gained Sang Luo's friendship and her family can now make a living by selling the magical tofu.
So, good people will be rewarded. Her mother-in-law is a very good person, and now the blessings have come.
Mrs. Chen: ...
This is the first time I know my daughter-in-law is so eloquent.
This is really the result of learning how to shout at the market, which has given you courage and enhanced your eloquence, right?
Qin Fangniang didn't notice the look in her mother-in-law's eyes. She was just too excited. It was fine when she was with Sang Luo along the way, but now that she was home and there were all her family members around, she couldn't suppress her excitement and it came out.
Including the one given by my family, the 19 copper coins had to be counted several times.
She changed the subject and said, "Mother, Alie's wife asked me to pick some wild vegetables this evening and tie them up with straw. I can take them to the East Market to sell them tomorrow. Two bundles for one penny. She sold all the ones she brought today."
Mrs. Chen nodded: "Then you can go out for a walk in the evening."
Qin Fang's mother hesitated again: "Mom, I was thinking, let's bring some wild vegetables to sell. If we can make a few more dollars a day, I will buy a stalk bone tomorrow and we can stew it with radish to drink bone soup. A Lie's wife said that drinking this way will not provide any nutrition. Children can grow taller if they drink it, and you and dad will not have leg pains. Think about it, if we sell two bunches of wild vegetables, we can buy one bone. It's not expensive."
Mrs. Chen: ...
This must be the evil spirit of the Sang family.
Since she came back, Mrs. Chen has been calling her "Alie's wife" left and right. She is almost getting calluses from hearing her callus.
But this evil was quite good, and people seemed to be more lively.
"Okay, if wild vegetables can be exchanged for money, then I'll do as you said and buy one to make soup tomorrow." Then he asked her, "Did A Lie's wife say how much tofu she would make to sell tomorrow?"
Mrs. Chen is more concerned about this.
Qin Fangniang slapped her forehead and said, "I almost forgot. This is considered a new food in the county and it sells well. I have discussed it with Alie's wife in the county and asked her to make more tonight. Tomorrow we will pull a cart and set up stalls in the east and west markets."
The market tax is one penny. I go in and sell in the morning and then leave. I lose money.
He then told her about Sang Luo buying two wooden barrels, and said, "If we add two more pottery basins, plus the two pottery basins she has, we will be able to carry more goods."
Mrs. Chen had no objection. The cart at home was empty anyway, and if she could sell more goods, she could make more money, which was a good thing.
Old man Chen, on the other hand, had been listening in silence for a long time. He took a puff of his pipe and suddenly asked, "How can she keep her little thatched house clean after doing so many things?"
There were already quite a few buckets, and with four ceramic basins, he thought there wouldn't be much space left for more people to step on if they went in.
When Mrs. Chen heard what her husband said, she looked over and the old couple looked at each other: "What do you mean?"
Old man Chen knocked on the pipe, took out some tobacco from his pipe, and filled it with it while saying, "I was thinking that if she brings our family to do this business, there will be more things to do every day. Should we build another kitchen?"
After a pause, he said, "You can ask her this afternoon. If she has this plan, before the busy farming season, Youtian and I will ask a few familiar families in the village to help. We can build it for her in a few days. The mud wall built at this time is the most solid."
Old man Chen is illiterate, but he knows the principle of reciprocity. From then on, his family now has an extra way to make a living. He does this to make it easier for Sang Luo to supply them with goods, and also to give back to them to the best of his ability.
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