Chapter 35: Childhood Friend Zhuang Wencheng
"Instead of this, I'd rather wait until I become famous for selling tofu here. Then I'll have some confidence when we talk about this matter, and others won't be able to bully me at will. If there are people who are cunning, I'm afraid they will come to buy tofu from me without waiting for me to come and talk to them."
"Yes, that's what you said." After hearing this, Liu nodded in agreement: "This person is always like this, rushing to do it, others are worried, but it's you who need to ask for it, no matter how good it is, you think it's delicious."
"That's right." Zhuang Qingning also laughed: "It has to be this way, only then can the business be good."
Liu looked at Zhuang Qingning. Besides praising him, she felt a little admiration in her heart. She felt that Zhuang Qingning was so insightful and resourceful at such a young age, and he should not be underestimated in the future.
After selling all the tofu, the two sisters did not pack up and leave as usual, but stayed here for a while longer.
When people stay here, others think there is tofu for sale, so they come here excitedly. But in the end, when they find out there is no tofu, they have to go back disappointed.
"I'm sorry, please come earlier tomorrow." Zhuang Qingsui sent away another person who came to buy tofu with an apologetic look on his face, then turned to look at Zhuang Qingning with a frown: "Sister, aren't we going back yet? If we wait any longer, I'm afraid my face will become stiff from trying to apologize."
"Okay, let's pack up." Seeing that the time was almost up, Zhuang Qingning began to pack up the bamboo baskets, cage cloths and other things in front of him.
On the other hand, he explained to Zhuang Qingsui, "We're staying here a little longer today because we want to see how many people come to buy tofu at this time. If we grind more tofu tomorrow, we should grind the right amount, otherwise it will be inappropriate to grind too little or too much."
"Then let's stay a little longer?" Upon hearing that staying here would be useful, Zhuang Qingsui immediately put down the bamboo basket on his back.
No matter whether the sun is high or your back is sweating.
"Let's go." Zhuang Qingning laughed, "It's enough to do it at this point. I already have an idea in my mind. It will be useless if we go any later. It will be a waste of effort."
"Speaking of which, I passed by that wonton stand yesterday. I saw that the wontons had thin skin and big fillings. It's almost noon now. Shall we go and have a bowl of wontons before going back?"
“Okay!” Zhuang Qingsui narrowed his eyes happily, quickly packed up his things and went to eat wontons with Zhuang Qingning.
A bowl of wontons costs two cents and is full. When you are almost finished eating, add half a bowl of soup. After eating a bowl of wontons and soup, the little belly is really full.
After the two sisters finished eating wontons, they went shopping.
In addition to daily use, because he got the recipe for salted duck eggs, Zhuang Qingning bought some duck eggs and salt in the town, waiting to try pickling them when he returned home.
After getting everything ready at home, I went to Wen's house to soak the beans as usual.
As soon as I arrived at the door of Wen's house, I saw a figure walking out of the house.
"Sister Ning." Before Zhuang Qingning could see the other person clearly, the man quickly walked up to her and asked, "Why are you here?"
Zhuang Qingning looked up and saw Zhuang Wencheng's face full of joy and surprise.
"Brother Wencheng?" Zhuang Qingning was also a little surprised.
Zhuang Wencheng is the elder brother of Zhuang Shengxing and the grandson of Zhuang Shengfu. He is fourteen years old this year and has been an apprentice in a medical clinic in the county town for four or five years.
In fact, Zhuang Wencheng and Zhuang Qingning grew up together. They often played together when they were young and were quite familiar with each other. However, when they grew up, they considered the difference between men and women and did not play together. In addition, Zhuang Shengxing later went to the county town and Zhuang Qingning was fostered in Zhuang Ruman's home, so they rarely met.
But perhaps because he was thinking about the friendship they had when they were playing together in childhood, Zhuang Wencheng often thought about Zhuang Qingning. Every time he came back, he would always find ways to give Zhuang Qingning some biscuits or something.
Therefore, Zhuang Qingning was very grateful to Zhuang Wencheng.
"I haven't been back for a while, so I asked for leave from my master and came back to see my parents. In addition, today is the anniversary of my third uncle's death, so I came back to visit his grave." Zhuang Wencheng explained.
Zhuang Qingning blinked.
So that’s how it is. Today is Zhuang Shengxing’s death anniversary.
No wonder last night, Mrs. Wen looked so worried, and her attitude towards them became much better.
I think it was because it was the anniversary of her late husband's death, which made her think of many things in the past. She also thought that her children now did not want to live with her. Looking at the two sisters, she felt the tenderness that a mother should have.
Zhuang Wencheng looked at Zhuang Qingning and said, "I heard when I came back that Sister Ning, you have established a female household? Now, you live in Hua the butcher's house?"
"It's a good thing to establish a female household. After all, you can eat as much as you earn in the future. Sister Ning, you are diligent and capable, so you will definitely not starve. However, life as a female household is not easy after all. You will have to take care of everything at home in the future..."
Zhuang Wencheng lowered his eyelids as he spoke, and reached out to his waist to take out a small purse, and stuffed it into Zhuang Qingning's hand: "I am an apprentice in the pharmacy on weekdays. I can't go out to see patients, so I don't get any consultation fees. I also have to pay a sum of money to my master every year. My life is a bit tight, so I can't help you with anything."
"During this period of time, I took advantage of my free time to go to some places to dig up some herbs and exchanged them for some money in the shop. It's not much, so you can keep it for yourself. You have just established a daughter-in-law household and brought your sister Sui with you. You don't have any land under your name, so you need money everywhere."
Originally, Zhuang Wencheng was thinking about leaving Wen's house and going to find Zhuang Qingning to give her the money. Since he met her here, he could save the trouble of making another trip.
"I appreciate Brother Wencheng's kindness, but you should take the money back."
Zhuang Qingning couldn't accept other people's kindness for nothing, so she smiled and politely declined: "Although Qingsui and I don't have any land, we have rented the tofu shop of Aunt Wen. We grind tofu and sell it in town every day. Although we don't make much, it's enough for us two sisters to spend."
"Brother Wencheng, you have to take care of everything in the county, and you need to spend money everywhere. You should keep this money for emergencies."
"Just now I was wondering why you were here. It turns out that you rented the tofu shop owned by my third uncle." Zhuang Wencheng said with a smile, "Sister Ning is capable. I think the tofu business must be good."
Although the clothes that Zhuang Qingning wore were not of good quality, they were not patched at all. Given the personalities of Zhuang Ruman and Song, they would definitely not give her such clothes when she was established as a daughter.
Moreover, Zhuang Qingning looked much better than when he saw her before, so he thought he could make some money by grinding tofu.
As she said, even if it's not much, it's enough for basic food and clothing.
(End of this chapter)
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