Traveling to an ancient peasant family: I got rich by doing business

October 18th is a good day to pray, open a business, and do business.

Early in the morning, before daybreak, Li Yu and two other people pushed the cart and set out from home.

Han Xiaomei held the lantern, Han Zheng pulled the rope tied to the cart, and the family walked slowly towards the town.

The cold wind blew and hit people's necks, making them shiver, but none of the three complained, and everyone had a smile on their face.

From today on, they don’t have to suffer the cold outside anymore, that’s great!

Han Xiaomei is the happiest of the three. Before the family split up, Yang Qiuyue would scold her if she worked a little slower and wouldn't let her eat well. After the family split up, there was less work to do. Although she had to get up early, she could eat well and dress warmly without being scolded. And she wore new clothes. Sister Lin had already made clothes for the three of them. Today, the new store opened, and they all changed into new clothes for the festive occasion.

Han Xiaomei couldn't help jumping up as she touched her outer shirt which was covered with a layer of cotton.

*

When the three of them arrived in the town, it was still dark. Li Yu opened the door of the shop, turned on the light, and moved the braised meat and vegetables to the chopping board.

Then she washed the rice and cooked porridge while Han Zheng and Han Xiaomei lit the stove.

The rice and water were prepared yesterday afternoon, the iron pot was cleaned, and the firewood was in place. Li Yu poured the water and rice into the pot. Soon, the aroma of porridge began to fill the air.

"It smells so good!" Han Xiaomei exclaimed.

Li Yu nodded her head and said, "I'll give you the first bowl of porridge that comes out of the pot."

Han Xiaomei waved her hands repeatedly: "Give it to the guests. The porridge is ours. I can drink it whenever I want. But the guests are different. We can't let them wait."

Li Yu and Han Zheng looked at each other and laughed.

*

Although it was a rented shop, it was the first day of opening after all, so Li Yu held a small opening ceremony.

Han Zheng lit a string of firecrackers to attract passers-by. Then she pulled down the red silk in front of the door, revealing a plaque with the words "Li Ji Food Shop" written on it.

She originally wanted to call the store Delicious Shop, but Han Zheng rejected the idea. Han Zheng meant that the food she cooked was delicious, and she would probably open a branch in the future. By then, the name Delicious Shop would not be very suitable as it was too ordinary. It would be better to call it Li Ji Food Shop, which would first tell everyone that the owner of the store was surnamed Li, and secondly, it would tell everyone what they sold.

Li Yu knew he was right. After confirming that he and Han Xiaomei didn't mind the store using her last name, she decisively changed her name.

Putting away the red silk, Li Yu bowed to the crowd watching the excitement, "Hello everyone, I sell braised dishes and meat in town. My surname is Li, and I used to set up a stall on the street in front. Thanks to everyone's care, I rented a shop and will continue to do business here in the future. In addition to selling braised meat and dishes, the shop also sells porridge. Today is the first day of the shop opening. Braised dishes are six cents per catty, and braised meat is reduced by five cents per catty. Anyone who spends ten cents or more will get a bowl of white porridge for free."

As Li Yu was speaking, Han Xiaomei lifted the lid of the pot, revealing thick white porridge.

Some people came to support Li Yu, and when they saw the white porridge, they immediately entered the shop and shouted, "Give me half a pound of braised pork intestines."

Han Xiaomei responded loudly and skillfully cut the pig intestines and served the porridge.

*

On the first day of opening, business at Li Ji Food Store was exceptionally good.

The shop was small and there was not enough space to sit, so some people bought braised dishes to take home. Others wanted to buy porridge, and Li Yu sold it to them all for one penny per bowl.

People were coming and going in the small shop. Li Yu and Han Xiaomei were cutting meat and serving porridge, and they seldom took a break. Fortunately, there were not that many things, so the chopping board was empty in just over an hour.

After seeing off the last guest, Li Yu and the other two decisively sat down on the chairs.

"Fortunately, I didn't prepare too much braised meat today." Li Yu looked at the porridge pot with not a single drop left and said, "I'll hire someone when I get home this afternoon."

She was able to take care of it today because Han Zheng was helping to collect the money, but Han Zheng's late rice holiday would end the day after tomorrow, and it would be a bit troublesome to rely on only her and Han Xiaomei by then.

As Li Yu was speaking, someone unexpectedly volunteered the next moment.

"Sister Li, can you think of me helping out in your shop?"

The person who spoke was a short girl, wearing clothes with patches on top of patches. She had little flesh on her cheeks, but her eyes were bright.

It was Han Sheng’s sister, Han Xiaocao. Li Yu had met her several times when he bought firewood from Han Sheng’s house.

Han Xiaocao is thirteen years old this year, but not much taller than nine-year-old Han Xiaomei. At this moment, she is carrying firewood on her back and looking at Li Yu with anticipation.

Since she really wanted this job, Han Xiaocao swallowed her saliva and continued, "I can cut and wash vegetables. I am efficient and can get up early. I am not afraid of hard work or fatigue. I can do anything."

Li Yu believed what he said. She had gone to their house to buy firewood before and found that although their house was poor, it was not dirty or messy. The yard was clean and tidy, and one could tell at a glance that it had been carefully cleaned.

Li Yu moved his eyes from Han Xiaocao's face to the firewood behind her and asked, "Is your brother willing?"

Han Xiaocao nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: "My brother will definitely agree."

"If you come to work for me, how will you sell firewood?"

"I can sell it in the afternoon." Han Xiaocao said.

This year, more firewood is sold, and it is harder to sell than in previous years. Sometimes she can't sell a bundle in a whole day, so she wants to find a small job to earn some copper coins to supplement the family income.

Li Yu said, "Go home and discuss it with him. If he agrees, you can come. You only work in the morning. Since the work is not heavy, I will only pay you five cents a day. If you do a good job, you will get a reward at the end of the month."

Han Xiaocao thought she would only need three cents to do it, but she ended up giving her so much that she almost cried with joy. "I'll go home now, Sister Li, wait for me."

Fearing that the job would be taken away by someone else, Han Xiaocao ran home as soon as possible.

Li Yu looked at her thin body and felt uncomfortable.

*

Han Xiaocao's home.

Han's mother was sitting in the yard weaving bamboo baskets. Her legs and feet were not good, so she could only do these simple tasks.

Just as she was putting a bamboo stick on the basket, Han Xiaocao's voice came over, "Mom, mom."

Mother Han raised her head and looked lovingly at Han Xiaocao who had barged into the yard, "Don't be reckless, be careful not to fall."

"Mom." Han Xiaocao looked around and saw that there was no one else. With red eyes, she whispered, "I found a job in town."

Mother Han froze: "Really?"

Han Xiaocao nodded heavily. "Sister Li wanted to hire someone to help her sell stewed food. I happened to pass by and heard it, so I mentioned it to her. Finally, Sister Li agreed. I will go to help every morning and earn five cents for half a day."

"Okay, okay!" Han's mother cried with joy, "You have to do it well, don't be lazy, be diligent."

"Don't worry, I will never let Sister Li down."

"By the way, I'll go find your best clothes. Your current clothes are too torn and don't look good."

Li Yu didn't know what kind of hope his actions brought to Han Xiaocao and her family. When he got up the next morning and prepared to go to town, he opened the door and found Han Xiaocao was already waiting at the door.