Seeing that Jiang Yuwei was not asleep, Ning Huaizhi asked:
"Yuwei, aren't you tired today? Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Jiang Yuwei smiled as she cleaned the crayfish:
"I'm not tired. We're going to the market tomorrow, so I need to cook the crayfish tonight. There's not much to do at home now. Why don't you and Wan'er come with me to the market tomorrow? You can help me sell fruit and pickled vegetables."
Ning Huaizhi nodded happily and said:
"Okay, I'll go to the market with my wife."
Ning Huaizhi took the brush from Jiang Yuwei and began to help her clean the crayfish, while Jiang Yuwei went to cut the side dishes to prepare the base sauce.
Jiang Yuwei, holding the spatula, glanced furtively at Ning Huaizhi, who was diligently washing lobsters, and asked:
"Huaizhi, will you blame me for how I treated your family today?"
Ning Huaizhi paused in washing the lobsters, gave a wry smile, and said:
“I don’t blame you, my wife. I know you were forced into this situation. My parents did go too far. I realized the day we separated the family that you, me, and our two children are the only real family. No one else would care about me, would risk their life to find medicine in the mountains for me, and would not be so focused on making money to support our family.”
As Ning Huaizhi spoke, he felt a lump in his throat. He, a grown man, was actually shedding tears without any backbone. He had been the one ignored and silently endured everything his whole life until he met Jiang Yuwei. She would do everything she could to help him get better, and she would also defend him in front of his family. She... she was the one who could accompany him for the rest of his life.
Ning Huaizhi sniffed and smiled:
"Wife, from now on, we'll do whatever you say in our family matters. You don't need to worry about me."
Jiang Yuwei was relieved that Ning Huaizhi wasn't blindly filial; it seemed he could still distinguish right from wrong. So she smiled and nodded, saying:
"Okay, I got it. Let's get to work."
The two quickly cooked a pot of crayfish together. Jiang Yuwei didn't take the crayfish out of the pot, but left them to soak in the flavor.
She urged Ning Huaizhi to go to bed early, fearing he wouldn't have the energy for tomorrow, while she herself went to busy herself with researching how to make preserved eggs.
Jiang Yuwei first prepared a large pot of water, then slowly poured in the previously prepared quicklime and stirred it evenly. After it cooled down slightly, she added wood ash, dry yellow mud, baking soda, salt, and tea water, and continued stirring until each egg was evenly coated with mud. Then she let it cool down naturally.
Jiang Yuwei coated the cooled eggs with sawdust, then placed them in a pre-prepared bamboo bucket, sealed it, and stored it away from light. She would patiently wait seven days until they were ready, at which point she could sell them at the market.
After Jiang Yuwei finished packing her things, she finally went to bed.
next day
Jiang Yuwei had brought four bamboo buckets filled with pickled fruits and spicy crayfish to the door early in the morning. She also dressed Ning Wan and tidied up Ning Huaizhi. The three of them waited at the gate for Uncle Ning's oxcart to arrive.
When Uncle Ning drove his oxcart over, he greeted Jiang Yuwei warmly:
"Yuwei, you're taking so many things to the market today! Huaizhi, you should come too!"
Jiang Yuwei smiled and nodded at him before starting to move things into the car. Seeing this, Uncle Ning Wu also helped Ning Huaizhi's wheelchair into the car and then helped Ning Huaizhi into the car.
The group soon arrived at the market. Jiang Yuwei and Ning Qiu set up their stall, and Ning Huaizhi and Ning Wan were in charge of selling pickled fruits, 15 coins a bowl. As usual, Jiang Yuwei cut up the pickled fruits and let Ning Wan offer them to the customers for free. Many people were curious about this rare treat. They had seen many wild fruits, but they had never seen wild fruits mixed with chili peppers.
Many people looked at the food in Ning Wan's hands and walked away with disgusted expressions. It was Manager Zhang, who had bought crayfish last time, who saw that Jiang Yuwei had made something new again and thought he would try it. So he gritted his teeth, took a piece of pineapple mixed with chili, and stuffed it into his mouth with a conflicted expression.
The curious onlookers watched Manager Zhang's expression, seeing him frown and then relax, before taking a bite of a pickled plum.
He kept nodding as he ate:
"Great, delicious! It's sweet and sour, bursts with juice in your mouth, and has a spicy kick that complements the fruit's fresh aroma. It's truly delicious! I've never tasted anything with such a rich and layered flavor that blends multiple tastes so perfectly!"
Steward Zhang asked Ning Huaizhi:
"What's this thing called, and how much does it cost?"
Ning Huaizhi picked up the bowl and laughed:
"Fifteen coins a bowl, this is a fruit-flavored pickled fruit."
Manager Zhang nodded and said:
"Fruit sour stuff? That's a rather unique name. Give me four bowls!"
Ning Huaizhi took the silver and began to package it for Steward Zhang. Seeing that even Steward Zhang from the Xu family praised the food, the people around couldn't resist trying the sample Ning Wan was holding.
"Delicious, really delicious!"
"It's sweet and sour, very refreshing."
"I'll try some too."
Amidst the enthusiastic praise from the crowd, a large crowd quickly gathered. Everyone who had tried it raved about it and eagerly pulled out their money to buy more. Ning Huaizhi was soon working up a sweat, while Ning Wan stood resolutely in front of the stall, mimicking Jiang Yuwei's manner of calling out:
"Please line up and buy in an orderly manner!"
Everyone laughed when they saw the little girl, who looked as pretty as a New Year's picture doll, with such a serious expression. They then lined up obediently as Ning Wan had instructed.
Ning Huaizhi was very pleased to see the changes in Ning Wan. His Wan'er was no longer the timid little girl she used to be. Indeed, the children raised by his wife were all very outstanding.
While busy selling crayfish, Jiang Yuwei kept an eye on Ning Huaizhi's movements. Seeing Ning Wan earnestly maintaining order and quickly packing up Ning Huaizhi's crayfish, she was even more delighted. Wan'er was indeed her good daughter.
After buying the fruit and pickled vegetables, Steward Zhang went to Jiang Yuwei's place and bought a lot of crayfish. The young masters and ladies in the manor complained that the ones he brought back last time were not enough, so Steward Zhang was waiting for Jiang Yuwei to come to the market so he could buy more to take back.
Seeing that Manager Zhang was so patronizing her business, Jiang Yuwei was generous and gave him an extra bowl, which Manager Zhang happily accepted.
"The food you make is novel and delicious. Our noblemen all love to eat it. Do you have time to come to our house and help cook a meal? Of course, it won't be for free. I will pay you."
Upon hearing that there was money to be made, Jiang Yuwei hurriedly asked:
"That's certainly possible, but I wonder which day Steward Zhang has chosen?"
Seeing that Jiang Yuwei had agreed, Manager Zhang nodded happily and said:
"It's set for three days from now. Our second young master has passed the imperial examination and will be holding a banquet to thank his teachers. Come early in the morning. The first house on the south street of the city is our Xu residence. I will arrange for a servant to meet you at the door."
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