Life seemed to have settled down. The son and daughter-in-law had turned over the soil in the front yard, and Tao Wan's mother took the opportunity to sow a few seeds.
"Mom, why don't we buy some more chickens and ducks? That way we can have eggs to eat ourselves in the future."
Wang Hongyu, who was helping out, tentatively asked, "The manure from these chickens and ducks can also be used to grow vegetables, Mom. Even in the provincial capital, we can raise chickens and ducks, and sell the extra eggs and duck eggs."
Tao Wanniang glanced at Wang Hongyu, thinking, "This idea is really good."
"Okay, go buy some chicks and ducklings later, and make sure to make cages for them, so that the house doesn't end up with chicken and duck droppings everywhere."
"Also, what do these chickens and ducks eat every day? This isn't like our Lingjia Village, where you can find food right in the fields. Here, they all need to be fed by people."
Tao Wan's mother made it clear from the outset that she didn't object to raising chickens and ducks, but someone had to manage them.
“Mother, if I raise them, I will definitely take care of them, but…” Wang Hongyu looked at Tao Wan’s mother, hesitated for a moment before mustering her courage to say, “Mother, that one tael of silver before wasn’t enough…”
"It's not enough. Prices are so high in Shanhai Prefecture. One tael of silver will probably only keep half of what you have!"
Tao Wan's mother said, "Okay, you go and find out how much the chicks and ducklings cost, I'll pay for them."
Wang Hongyu thought for a moment and immediately agreed.
"Mother, I... I'm a little scared to go alone. I'll wait for Gouwa's father to go out with me."
Tao Wan's mother said nothing; she, as the mother-in-law, didn't want to interfere with what her son and daughter-in-law wanted to do.
Wang Hongyu sensed Tao Wanniang's displeasure at her silence. In the past, when she and her husband wanted to do something together, her mother-in-law would start making sarcastic remarks. She cautiously stole a few glances at Tao Wanniang.
"Mother, then...then I'll go check on the child first."
"Hmm!" Tao Wanniang didn't look up, she just responded.
After sowing the seeds, Tao Wan's mother prepared to go outside and make a wonton cart and stove. She would start with simple wontons and scallion pancakes, and then try making a few other snacks when she had time.
Tao Wanniang thought about it and called Xiao Qiao'er to go out for a walk together.
"Little Qiao'er, don't stay inside. Come on, let's go out with Grandma Tao. Grandma Tao will show you some new things!"
Xiao Qiao'er was in low spirits, and Tao Wan's mother dragged her out the door.
"Little Qiao'er, Grandma wants to sell wontons in the future. Do you think Grandma can succeed?"
Xiao Qiao looked at Tao Wan Niang in surprise, but after thinking for a moment, she nodded and said, "Grandma Tao, the food you make is always delicious. I believe you can do it."
"Has Xiao Qiao found something she wants to do yet? Is she staying at home every day looking gloomy, or is she selling wontons with Grandma Tao?"
"Grandma Tao, I can help you with chores!"
Xiao Qiao'er was afraid of being useless and being abandoned, so she immediately spoke up after Tao Wan's mother opened her mouth.
“Little Qiao’er, Grandma Tao doesn’t want you to do things for her. She just sees you’re confused and lost, so she wants you to meet more people. If you feel tired, you don’t have to do it.”
Xiao Qiao'er understood Tao Wan's intention and nodded.
"Grandma Tao, I can do it. I can do any kind of work. I am useful."
Tao Wanniang patted Xiao Qiao'er's head and softened her voice. "Xiao Qiao'er, no one said you're useless!"
In the city of Shanhai Prefecture, there are shops selling wontons and tea shops. Tao Wanniang walked around and looked at the shops. She said to a wonton shop, "Little Qiao'er, come on, Grandma Tao will treat you to wontons."
"But Grandma Tao, didn't we just have breakfast?" Xiao Qiao'er asked, puzzled.
"Hehe, Grandma Tao is keeping her belly open!"
Tao Wanniang smiled and, after pulling Xiao Qiao'er into the shop, ordered two bowls of wontons. "If you want to do this business in the provincial capital, you should at least try the local cuisine."
"Shopkeeper, your business doesn't look very good!"
There were no other guests at the moment, so Tao Wanniang spoke up.
"Hey, stop talking. I don't even want to keep this shop open anymore. I really haven't found any other way. These days, it's hard to run any small business!"
The shop owner, a middle-aged man named Chen Gui, said with a worried expression.
Tao Wanniang had a sudden thought. She noticed that the shopkeeper had kept the shop very clean, and the location was also good. If she could take over a ready-made shop, it would save her some trouble.
"Shopkeeper, are you thinking of selling your shop?"
Tao Wanniang asked directly, "I'd also like to open a wonton shop, but I'm new here and don't know where to start."
Chen Gui was taken aback and looked Tao Wanniang up and down.
"Big sister, um, you want to take over my shop?"
"We can talk about this slowly, shopkeeper. Since there's nothing else, let's sit down and chat."
Tao Wan smiled and greeted her, "If you really want to sell it and the price is reasonable, I might actually take it!"
"This wonton stall has to open early in the morning and close up after curfew. It's not an easy job, ma'am. I'm worried you won't be able to handle it!"
Chen Gui couldn't discern Tao Wanniang's true nature, but he spoke truthfully.
"Come on, let's eat some wontons first. If you really have something in mind, we can talk about it after we finish eating."
Tao Wan's mother wasn't in a hurry, and told Xiao Qiao'er to eat first.
These wontons are really just so-so. Tao Wanniang feels that she can definitely make them better herself than the shopkeeper.
From the shopkeeper, Tao Wanniang also learned that even small vendors had to register with the brokerage firm. Although the wonton shop was just a makeshift stall in an open space, it was still outside the market and under the control of the market authorities.
"The venue fee of two cents a month is not expensive, and I can't carry these tables and chairs with me every time."
"Big sister, are you really going to take this shop?"
Chen Gui believed Tao Wanniang after hearing her detailed questions.
"Yes, really. But I can also cook wontons and make some snacks. If we can't reach an agreement with the shop owner, I'll find another place and open a shop."
Tao Wanniang truthfully said, "If the shop owner really wants to transfer this shop, he should name a price."
"Ten taels, ten taels of silver and I'll transfer this shop to you!"
Chen Gui said straightforwardly, "Sister, I'm not trying to extort you. Although we're just a small stall with four tables, I've been running it for a year now, and all the customers know about my wonton shop. If you take over, it's just a matter of changing the signboard."
Tao Wanniang calculated that one pound of flour could make four thousand wrappers, and one bowl could make twenty wontons, which would amount to about two hundred bowls. In addition, she knew how to make some noodles to go with the wontons. Well, ten taels of silver was not expensive for her!
"That's possible, but if I want it, where do I hand it over to?"
When Chen Gui heard that someone was willing to buy his wonton shop for ten taels of silver, he was overjoyed. He could only sell fifty or sixty bowls of wontons a day, barely making enough to eat. He was working from dawn till dusk and it would be better to go home and farm.
"Big sister, if you really want it, we'll go to the brokerage to register right now. Big sister, my wontons are made with a unique recipe. If you want to learn, there will be an extra charge."
Chen Gui looked happy, with a hint of pride.
Tao Wanniang paused for a moment, picked up a wonton, and said quietly, "Good wonton, the wonton wrapper should be so translucent you can see inside. I could roll out five wonton wrappers from this one!"
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