He Tiantian looked at her with a puzzled expression, but her hands didn't stop moving.
"What's wrong? Tell me."
Erhua's mother stood aside watching the pot bubble and simmer, the snow-white fish meat rolling around, and the enticing aroma filling the entire kitchen.
"After you finish cooking for Director Song, can you leave the task of washing the pots to me?" Erhua's mother tugged at her clothes. Every time Wanzi's mother cooked for Director Song, she was generous with the amount of oil, and there was still a lot of oil sticking to the surface of the pot after the dishes were served.
"I brought some flatbread, and I want to dip it in the pan so it'll be oily and flavorful and taste better." She happened to have brought three or four flatbreads, which she dipped in oil to take back for her sons to try.
He Tiantian hadn't thought of this; she would always wash the pot after cooking. And there was a layer of oil floating on the water when she washed the pot.
"Okay, it's a waste not to eat anyway. You're so thoughtful, Aunt Erhua." He Tiantian felt a little sore inside. This place is too poor.
Aside from her, who just arrived, I reckon everyone here can make the most of the food.
After preparing the meal, Mozhu arrived on time with the food box.
He Tiantian took off her apron, carefully packed the prepared food into a food box, and then wiped the food box with a rag.
Watching from the side, Mo Zhu couldn't help but think more highly of He Tiantian.
No wonder the adults love Aunt He's cooking; she's so meticulous, keeping everything spotless. Even her apron is always immaculate.
Even the cooks in the Prince's mansion weren't this clean; their aprons still had a few drops of oil on them.
"Alright, if the adults like pickled fish, we can make it often in the future. There's still plenty of pickled cabbage in the jar, but this fish doesn't seem very fresh." He Tiantian handed over the food box. When she was cleaning the fish, she felt that it wasn't very fresh, and the meat might not be as tender and springy, which would affect the taste to some extent.
Mo Zhu scratched his head in distress. He couldn't find this stale fish even in town, and had to search for a long time in the county before finally finding it.
“Sister He, you don’t know, there are no fresh fish for sale in winter. This fish was bought from the county, and it was already dead when we bought it. It wasn’t easy to bring it back.”
He Tiantian's eyes lit up; she seemed to have come up with another way to make money.
"Does Director Song like to eat fish?"
"I like it," Mo Zhu nodded.
"Then what do you think? If I catch some fresh fish, how about I sell them to Director Song?" The heavy snow had just stopped, so she could take her fishing net to the river behind the mountain and try her luck.
"That would be perfect. I'll go tell the adults right away." Mo Zhu happily carried the food box away, thinking that if he bought Sister He's fish, he wouldn't have to travel all the way to the county to find fish.
He wanted to have a serious talk with the adults, saying that Sister He was such a good person, and that she should be allowed to earn this money!
Anyway, his family is a bunch of rich fools.
On the way back, He Tiantian kept thinking about how to catch fish. Besides fish, she also wanted to see if she could find some other novel ingredients to sell as well.
To make money, you should first focus your efforts on the richest people around you.
Back in the village, He Tiantian first went to find Liu Shi, and all thirty handkerchiefs had been embroidered.
She carefully inspected each item, demanding that even the slightest loose thread be cut off and smoothed out. Finally, He Tiantian settled Liu's wages at 150 coins.
Liu was holding a string of coins in her hand, and she was all smiles.
Having lived to such an old age, this was the first time she had earned money with her own skills, so how could she not be happy?
"Sister Liu, if the handkerchiefs sell well this time, I'll bring back a few more so you can help me find someone to embroider them." He Tiantian wrapped the handkerchiefs in cloth and carefully tucked them into her bosom.
"Okay, okay. I'll take the wages to Zhao's wife and the others right away." Liu took a cloth bag, counted out the money, and put it in.
When I got home, Yulan's mother was sitting at the door, embroidering cross-stitch by the light outside.
He Tiantian saw that the "Pine and Crane Longevity" embroidery was almost finished. She had specifically chosen a beautiful pattern when she bought it. After it was finished, the cranes on it were so lifelike that they seemed to be about to fly out of the canvas.
"Sister-in-law, your cooking skills are really good." He Tiantian looked at it carefully and sighed inwardly.
Although this cross-stitch is a beginner's job, she definitely wouldn't be able to do it well. Back in high school, her deskmate would knit, and she could only help by untangling the yarn.
Yulan Niang was embarrassed by the praise, "It's nothing. I'm just starting out, so I'll be a little slower. I'll speed up the other two."
“No rush. Tomorrow I’ll go to town with the mine’s oxcart to buy supplies. I’ll take this embroidered one to town and ask about it first.” He Tiantian was already planning how to negotiate with Hong Erniang tomorrow.
This Hong Erniang is a businesswoman; she's clever, cunning, and stingy, so she might not be easy to deal with.
The next day, He Tiantian got up very early. It was still dark outside, but the heavy snow had completely stopped.
For some reason, the four children also woke up so early, and one or two of them stared at He Tiantian expectantly.
Sister-in-law Yulan packed all the things she needed to take and handed them to He Tiantian.
"Please be careful on the road. Don't worry about things at home, I'll take good care of the children."
He Tiantian nodded, looking at the four children with amusement, and said, "Don't worry, I promised to buy you meat, and I definitely will this time."
"Sigh, they're just children." Yulan's mother shook her head helplessly. In these days, life is poor, and the children are so greedy that they're pitiful.
"Mother, you must be careful." Zhao Denglong held He Tiantian's hand, reluctantly giving her these words of advice. Zhao Wanzi also nestled beside He Tiantian's legs, clinging to her thighs with reluctance.
Yulan's mother came over and pulled both children into her arms, reminding them with concern, "Go early and come back early."
He Tiantian went out with her bundle in her arms. When she reached the foot of the mountain, several women were already sitting on the oxcart.
These people were different from the last time; apart from Erhua's mother, she didn't recognize the others.
The oxcart moved slowly, and in places where the snow was deep, several people had to get off and push it. Along the way, several women chattered incessantly, and they finally arrived at the town.
Just like last time, Erhua's mother went to buy some kitchen seasonings, while He Tiantian went to order vegetables.
Practice makes perfect, and this time He Tiantian ordered a batch of radishes and cabbages as quickly as possible. When she saw that there were potatoes, she bought some as well.
There are hardly any other vegetables available in the market, just these three.
He Tiantian paid the vendor and had the vegetables delivered to the oxcart outside the city. She then went to Hong Erniang's Yunshui Shop.
This time was different from the last; there wasn't a single customer in the shop.
Hong Erniang sat in front of the counter, idly cracking sunflower seeds, leaving a pile of shells on the floor.
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