Chapter 49 Setting up a stall
The quiet and leisurely days lasted for a week. Su Tao worked from sunrise to sunset. Every day he would collect grass for the pigs and cook at home. He Chuan would not let Su Tao do any other hard and dirty work. His life was not leisurely at all.
Today is the weekend market day. Last night, Su Tao dragged He Chuan to the river to catch a bunch of crayfish. He Chuan cleaned them overnight. This morning, Su Tao got up early to stir-fry the lobsters and can them, just like last time, with each can weighing 3 jin.
Su Tao also planned to make some purple sweet potato and yam cakes for He Chuan to take along. After all, crayfish were only in season at this time, and they wouldn't be around much anytime soon. He had to develop some other products to sell alongside them and see how they would fare.
Su Tao first washes the purple sweet potato and yam, cuts them into pieces, and steams them in a steamer until cooked. Then, he mashes each purple sweet potato and yam into a paste, adds sugar and condensed milk (traditional Chinese: condensed milk), and mixes thoroughly. He then rolls the purple sweet potato and yam paste into long strips, then forms small balls into sections. There are various types of balls: yam balls, purple sweet potato balls, and a combination of yam and purple sweet potato. Finally, he presses the balls into He Chuan's molds, and the resulting adorable animal-shaped purple sweet potato and yam cakes are revealed.
Su Tao also made some flower shapes. Finally, he packed the cakes into bamboo baskets, put a bunch of banana leaves prepared in advance into the baskets, and gave them to He Chuan to wrap the cakes for sale.
He Chuan took a square rattan box with compartments and stuffed everything into it. He carried it on his back like a giant suitcase. The heavy cargo weighed down his shoulders, and the rattan straps dug into his clothes, causing Su Tao to feel distressed. If she had carried it herself, she could have just used the storage space. There was no need to endure this pain. But the man refused to allow her to carry it, no matter what.
"Remember to take the bus at the entrance of the village. Don't be reluctant to spend that little fare. I will pick you up at the entrance of the village when you come back. If I find out that you are coming back by chance, you can try it." Su Tao stood at the door and watched He Chuan leave.
He Chuan arrived at the village entrance and took a bus to the town.
He Chuan didn't choose to take the bus out of fear of Su Tao's words. In the past, he would have probably walked. He was a fast walker, and choosing small forest paths was no slower than taking the bus. However, today, he was carrying too much stuff, which slowed his speed. He was afraid that if he walked, he would delay his arrival in town and fail to sell the goods, so he chose to take the bus.
"He Chuan, are you alone today? Su Zhiqing isn't with you?" Uncle Wang asked with a smile.
"She is at home." He Chuan was still as indifferent as ever, speaking briefly and concisely.
Uncle Wang was used to his style and didn't pay much attention to it. He set off when the seats were full.
Arriving in town, He Chuan headed straight for the black market. He arrived early, so he chose a secluded spot to set out his wares. He Chuan was tall and strong, his face covered with a bandana, and his eyes were stern. The vendors and customers around him didn't dare approach.
It was not until He Chuan opened the can that the familiar aroma spread, and people who had bought Su Tao crayfish before came here following the smell.
"Is this spicy crayfish?" The man tilted his head and looked into the jar, trying to see clearly what was inside.
"Well, if you have bowls or jars to store them, it's 1 yuan per catty, and you need a meat ticket for 1 catty. Without a ticket, it's 1 yuan and 20 cents per catty. If you use my jars, it's 1 yuan and 50 cents per catty with a ticket, and 1 yuan and 70 cents per catty without a ticket. If you buy 3 catties at one time, I'll give you a jar for free." He Chuan said according to Su Tao's instructions.
"Are you with the woman from last time?" The man was Li Weidong, who had bought crayfish from Su Tao last time. He heard He Chuan and Su Tao say the same thing, and he was even more certain that it was the Lu family.
"Well, that's my sister. I will sell her from now on." He Chuan made an excuse, not wanting outsiders to know about their relationship.
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