The ice jelly was placed next to the counter, with two bowls of diced mango and peach, and a bowl of sugar water placed behind it. To prevent flies and insects from biting, a plate was covered on top.
I didn’t cut too much mango and peach because I was afraid they would taste bad after a long time, so I cut them when they were almost used up.
"Uncle Qian, come and have a bowl of ice jelly when it's heated up," Lin Yan greeted enthusiastically. Uncle Qian was about to order a bowl of tofu pudding when he heard the words and hurried over. "Why wait? Can't we eat now?"
"No, no, you can eat it. I was just worried that you might want to eat something else so early in the morning." Lin Yan was stunned for a moment and quickly replied.
"Then make me a bowl. I'm already covered in sweat after strolling here from home."
"Okay." Lin Yan took the bowl stacked aside, took a large piece of ice jelly from the bucket, scooped it into the bowl, cut it into small pieces, added a spoonful of sugar water, and finally added a spoonful of diced mango and a spoonful of diced peach.
"Uncle Qian, your ice jelly, try it and see if it's okay."
Uncle Qian stirred it with a spoon, scooped up a spoonful and started eating. "Hmm, not bad, it's cool and refreshing, the mango is soft and sticky, the peach is sweet, and the syrup is just right, not too sweet."
Lin Yan was very pleased. He asked Uncle Qian to eat slowly and went to greet other diners.
"Little boss, what are you selling?"
When the diner walked in, the first thing he saw was a new food next to the counter.
"This is ice jelly. It has sugar and fruit in it. It tastes icy and cool."
"Oh? That's great. Give me a bowl then."
A lot of ice jelly was sold one after another, and by lunch time, only half of it was left. Lin Yan had been scooping ice jelly, cutting mangoes and peaches at the counter today, and from time to time he had to go to the kitchen to boil new sugar water and let it cool.
For convenience, Lin Yan bought a small wooden board and placed it on the table next to the counter to cut fruit. He also bought a small knife so that he didn't have to go to the kitchen all the time.
"You must be tired. Take a rest and I'll do it." Zhao Shiyun handed him a glass of water. Lin Yan took it and drank it while muttering. He looked at the mung bean soup and sour plum soup with envy, and then looked at Zhao Shiyun.
Zhao Shiyun knew that he wanted to drink mung bean soup and sour plum soup, but these drinks were taken out of the well and tasted relatively cold. Zhao Shiyun was afraid that he would get a stomachache after drinking them, so he always controlled the amount. For example, he didn't let him eat too much ice jelly.
Lin Yan knew he was doing this for his own good, so he didn't say anything, though he was a little greedy. Zhao Shiyun brought him a bamboo tube of boiled and cooled water from home every day.
At noon, all the ice jelly was sold out. Lin Yan scraped the bottom of the bucket with a spoon and was sure that it was not enough for a bowl of ice jelly. He happily brought the last half bowl of ice jelly to the kitchen and shared it with Widow Liu and Yue Ge'er.
In the morning, Lin Yan asked them to eat some, but they refused, saying that they were going to sell it and couldn't let it go to waste. Lin Yan sold ice jelly for five cents a bowl, which had sugar and fruit, so five cents was not expensive.
*
"Mom, take this money and help me collect some ice jelly seeds when you have time." Lin Yan gave Li Yuemei one or two taels of silver. In addition to the expenses of collecting peaches yesterday, there was also money for collecting ice jelly seeds.
"Why would I need so much? The peach is only fifty cents."
"We'll have to collect more later, so just take it. You can give me the rest." Lin Yan insisted.
"Okay, kid, let me keep it for you." Li Yuemei was very pleased. The shop made money. Not only did Lin Yan give her dividends every month, but he also often bought things like this and that, including a lot of meat. Li Yuemei felt that she had gained weight. Every time someone in the village teased her, she complained, but she felt very happy in her heart.
"Just rest assured. I make ice jelly at home every day and I won't let you worry." Li Yuemei promised.
Lin Yan smiled and said, "Thank you, Amo."
After Douxiangzhai started serving ice jelly, the business, which had been declining due to the hot summer weather, gradually picked up again. Every time Lin Yan counted the coins, he couldn't stop smiling. Zhao Shiyun called him a little money-grubber.
"What's wrong with being a money-grubber? Only if you love money will you make it well and not spend it on crooked means." Lin Yan didn't care at all and even felt that Zhao Shiyun's name was quite appropriate.
"When you're pregnant in a few months, don't go to the shop anymore. Rest more at home."
"No, the doctor said I should move around more in the later stages, and it's not far."
"No, health is more important." Zhao Shiyun frowned.
Lin Yan glared at him, his eyes red with grievance. Zhao Shiyun was suddenly at a loss.
Lin Yan turned his face away, not intending to pay attention to him. At this moment, the two of them were sitting on the bed, ready to go to sleep, but who knew that after just a few words, Lin Yan would be upset.
Zhao Shiyun heard Li Yuemei say that pregnant women have rapid mood swings. He hadn't felt anything before, but now he finally felt it. He quickly admitted his mistake: "Okay, okay, I was wrong. I shouldn't have stopped you from going to the shop. If you want to go, go ahead. I'll go with you, okay?"
Lin Yan took off his coat, hung it on the truss, climbed onto the bed, turned his back to Zhao Shiyun, closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Zhao Shiyun had no choice but to blow out the oil lamp, lie down on the bed, cover Lin Yan with a quilt, and think about how to make her husband forgive her.
During the recent follow-up visit, the doctor did not agree to stop taking the medicine. He has been taking the medicine for two months. Zhao Shiyun knew that Lin Yan was anxious about this, but he didn't know how to relieve Lin Yan's anxiety. He could only buy some novel gadgets or fresh food to please him.
With something on his mind, Zhao Shiyun was drowsy and hadn't slept well. It was time to get up. He sat up, staring blankly for a while. After half a minute, he really had to get up, so he rubbed his eyes hard to wake himself up.
After washing his face with cold water, Zhao Shiyun regained his consciousness and began grinding beans. Lately, the demand for tofu has been low, so the amount of beans needed to be ground has also decreased. After a period of popularity, dried bean curd sheets have become less popular. He can sell about two baskets at the market, not the usual one. With less volume, the family has more stock. Lin Yan asked his father and mother not to make so much for now, and to find time to discuss cooperation with peddlers or restaurants.
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