Song Sanniang's Journey to Wealth

"Dad, what did Uncle Niu say?" Song Sanniang felt that the house was strangely quiet, so she asked.

"He agreed to do as you said, adding a lid and a spoon. I charged him one penny for a set, but he refused to take the money at first." After saying that, he said to Song Ersao.

"By the way, I asked Lao San to bring the bamboo bowls he made. When you are at home and have time, steam and wash them like you did before."

"I understand." Mrs. Song replied.

After the meal, the family cleared the table, washed the dishes, and started to count the expenses.

After deducting the thirty bowls and two hundred and forty coins that Qin Haodong and his two brothers took away, the income should have been one thousand two hundred and sixty coins. The one or two ounces from the indenture was taken from the money from the division of the family and was not included in the income.

After deducting the 15 wen share of Qin Haodong and his partner, 2 wen for the stall fee, 10 wen for the lean meat, 4 wen for the buns, 10 wen for the car fare, and 12 wen for the two bowls of double skin milk left over, the total income for today was 1,207 wen.

Song Sanniang’s rent will no longer be included in the general ledger. She will just make extra sweet soup every day to settle the bill, unless she settles it with cash on the same day. However, Song Zuen will probably get tired of it in a few days, so she can settle it directly with cash at that time, all at once.

It has only been less than a week since I earned more than 200 wen on the first day and now I earn almost 150 wen a day, and starting tomorrow, Song Lao Er will open a stall in the West Market.

Song Ersao said with a smile, "It seems that our house will be built soon." Song Laoer also laughed foolishly.

The three of them were very happy, and after they had calmed down from the happiness, they went about their own business.

When Song Sanniang returned home after studying in the evening, Si Niang and Wu Niang had already taken a bath and gone to bed.

Song Laoer and Song Ersao were making bamboo bowls in the dark. A small candle emitted a warm light, and Song Sanniang also joined the team.

A busy night passed quickly.

Early the next morning, the family had to prepare more than 200 servings of sweet soup, so Song Lao Er had to go to the West Market to start a new business.

Fifty portions of double skin milk, eighty portions of fruit milk jelly, and eighty portions of colorful taro balls.

The Qin Haodong brothers still had ten bowls of each item, the father and daughter had twenty bowls of double-skin milk each, and Song Sanniang had thirty bowls of fruit jelly and colorful taro balls each, while Song Laoer had fifty bowls.

Today, we have used up all the glutinous rice flour and fruits at home. It's time to buy some.

Song Ersao and Song Sanniang already had a tacit understanding and cooperated very smoothly. Although the quantity had doubled, it was only a matter of increasing the materials and did not have much impact.

Si Niang and Wu Niang would help with some small things from time to time, so Song Lao Er went to make bamboo bowls.

Just when everyone in the family was busy with their work, Niu Laosan came in with a bamboo basket. "Second brother, I made more than 30 sets of bamboo bowls last night. I'll give them to you first."

Song Lao Er came over and took the bamboo basket, and poured all the bamboo bowls and spoons inside into the large wooden basin to soak them first. He asked, "Have you had breakfast? You didn't eat here."

"I've eaten. Now I'll go back and make bowls for you." Niu Lao San took the bamboo basket and was about to leave, but Song Lao Er quickly stopped him.

"Wait a minute, I just counted them, there are thirty-eight sets. I'll get the money for you." After saying that, he quickly went into the room to get the money.

Niu Laosan stood there a little embarrassedly. Song Laoer came out quickly, gave him the money, sent him out the door, and then went back to his own business.

After lunch, Song Dazhi came knocking on the door. He brought a shoulder pole with him. Song Laoer asked him to help carry it yesterday. They were going to set up two stalls in the future. There was only one shoulder pole at home, so he had to borrow Song Dazhi's.

Song Dazhi didn't mind. His family had a lot of good land, so there was plenty of rice, and there were also many bamboo baskets to hold the rice. It wouldn't affect him at all if he gave one basket to Song Laoer.

Song Laoer and his companions packed the sugar water in the cellar, put it on the car and set off. They first sent Sanniang to the East Market, and then sent Song Laoer to the West Market.

When they arrived at the East Market, Song Laoer insisted on helping Song Sanniang carry the load to the market and then to the West Market. Song Sanniang had no choice but to ask Song Dazhi to wait for him. When they arrived at the stall, Qin Haodong and the other man were already waiting nearby.

Song Laoer put down his things and left. Qin Haodong and his partner came over with baskets.

"Sister Song, the sweet soup from last night was sold out, and some people asked me to deliver more today." Qin Haodong hadn't spoken yet, but Qin Haonan couldn't wait to say it.

"You are really amazing. Keep up the hard work today." Sanniang leaned over and touched Qin Haoxi's head.

Qin Haodong handed the basket to Sanniang, who carefully poured the money into the backpack she was carrying today like a thief, and then took out twenty-four coins and gave them to Qin Haodong.

Qin Haodong took it, thanked him, and then asked about today's arrangements.

"Let's take thirty bowls today. You can go to other places first. If you sell all of them, you can go to the West Market. My father also sells them there. When you have sold all of them, you can go to him and take them and sell them at the dock." After Song Sanniang made the arrangements, she began to help them pack.

"Ok."

After the two brothers left, Song Sanniang started to guard the stall. She felt a little uncomfortable when she was alone. She looked at the stall next to her. Wang Er was still there, but the other side was occupied by an old lady selling eggs.

"Uncle Wang, how much are your peaches?" Song Sanniang asked him, and she bought the peaches while there was still time.

"Two pounds of peaches for three cents. They're crispy and sweet. Why, do you want some? Your dad leaves you here alone, and you're not afraid." Wang Er teased happily. Seeing that she was a little girl, he felt that Song Laoer was really bold.

"Don't you uncles and aunts come here with me? If anything happens, there are police officers to help me. I'm not afraid. Just give me four pounds of peaches," said Song Sanniang, and then she took out six cents from her backpack and gave them to Wang Laoer.

Wang Lao Er smiled even brighter after hearing this. He carefully picked out the big and good-looking ones, muttering, "You are such a great girl. Uncle will pick the best ones for you."

Four catties was not enough, so he gave one more. Song Sanniang packed the baskets and started to work when a guest arrived.

West city

Song Laoer asked Song Dazhi to watch the things first while he paid the stall fee and then went to the stall carrying his load.

The stalls here are different from those in the East Market. The stalls in the East Market all charge a uniform two cents. Here it depends on what you sell.

The cheapest items are vegetables, fruits, bamboo weavings, herbs, etc., which are two cents, and food is three cents. If it is fresh fish and meat, it will cost five cents, but the prices of those are also high.

Song Laoer stopped at the stall. On the left was a stall selling pancakes. There were only three kinds of fillings: scallion oil, leeks, and pork. Despite the small variety, the business was booming.

Put the dough into the iron pan and press it gently with your hands to make the pancake as thin and big as possible. After one side is shaped, turn it over and fry until both sides are golden brown. The pancake becomes fluffy, with a thin skin and full fillings, and the aroma fills the air. The stall is filled with people waiting.

A pancake like this costs two cents for a vegetarian pancake and four cents for a meat pancake. It only costs four cents for an adult to eat two vegetarian pancakes, but they are enough to fill you up.

The boatmen here can have a vegetarian meal and a meat meal on a day when they are paid more. If they don't pay much, they can just have two vegetarian pancakes and still have a good meal.

On the right is a stall selling steamed buns, steamed buns and dumplings. Although it is a stall, the two stacks of steamers are as high as a person, and they are emitting hot steam.

The couple who own the stall are busy as this kind of food that is both filling and quick to eat is the best-selling one in the West Market.

Song Laoer opened the three kinds of sweet soups and placed them on bamboo lids. Customers from the stalls on both sides came over to take a look out of curiosity.

"What kind of food is this? It looks fresh."

"It's obviously made of milk. It smells like milk and is snow-white."

"They are very pretty, purple, pink, yellow and green."

Someone directly asked Song Lao Er, "Hey, brother, what are you selling and how do you sell it?"

Song Lao Er laughed and said, "I sell sweet soup. The one with fruits is fruit milk jelly, eight cents a bowl. The colorful ones are colorful taro balls, ten cents a bowl. The white ones are double skin milk, as smooth and tender as egg custard, six cents a bowl."

"Wow, ten cents for a bowl, that's too expensive. I can buy a pound of meat with that much. I can't afford it." Some people turned around and left, and more people left one after another.

"Give me a bowl of the six-cent variety to try." "Give me a bowl too." Some people also wanted to try it, but no one was interested in the taro balls for the time being.

Some people didn't buy it, and looked at those who bought it and tried it. "How is it? Is it delicious?"

"It's delicious, sweet, and has a milky taste." The man was still reluctant to finish the meal, "Boss, give me two bowls to take back for my kids."

"Okay, guests, you can't keep it for too long. Eat it when you get home, otherwise it will go bad." These are all new guests, so I have to remind them one by one.

Song Laoer was busy here, while Song Sanniang was so idle that she wanted to swat a fly. At this moment, the young man Xiao Caizi from the last visit to the He Mansion came and asked Song Laoer as soon as he arrived, "Hey, girl, is your father not here?"

"My father is not here. What do you want to talk to him about? Tell me and I will tell him." Song Sanniang replied.

"The day after tomorrow, our eldest daughter will hold her coming-of-age ceremony. We're going to have a big banquet and we need to order sweet soup from you. We need to prepare 100 bowls of each of the three kinds of sweet soup you sent last time. Can you do it? This matter concerns our eldest daughter. It's a big deal. You can't mess it up."

Song Sanniang calculated that the only thing the family lacked now was bamboo bowls. The amount made by Uncle Niu San today should be enough for tomorrow. So if she could find two or three more people to help make it tomorrow, she would be able to finish it.

So she replied, "I can make the decision on this matter. We have accepted it, but we don't know when your banquet will be held. Because it is made with milk, we have to ensure that the milk is fresh, otherwise it will upset the stomach. If your house can provide milk, it would be better if we cook it directly at your house."

Xiao Caizi scratched his head and said, "I can't make the decision on this matter. Wait, I'll go find He Caimai to talk to you." After that, he turned around and ran away.

After a while, He Caimai came over here, fanning himself.

"I know what you said to Xiao Caizi. You have thought it through. Our banquet will be in the afternoon. We have plenty of cows and even sheep on our farm. It's fine if you want milk. Just tell me what other ingredients you want and I'll have the kitchen staff prepare them."

Song Sanniang smiled embarrassedly, "Just prepare the milk, and reduce the price by two cents per bowl of sugar water. We will prepare the rest. If you have to prepare the rest, we will not make any money."

"Haha, don't worry, little girl. If you don't make any mistakes, you will definitely be rewarded and you won't be short of money."

"Thank you Uncle He for your good words for us. We will go there the day after tomorrow to make preparations. My mother and I will go together then. Thank you for your help, Uncle He." Song Sanniang took the opportunity to strike.

After the two discussed the details, He Caimai paid a deposit of one or two taels and bought six bowls of sugar water before leaving leisurely.

Song Sanniang was a little excited. Although she had no intention of currying favor with others, being able to establish a long-term cooperative relationship with the He family would also be beneficial when the business expanded in the future. No matter what, this time she had to do it beautifully.

She had already started to plan the whole thing. She had to prepare the ingredients first: glutinous rice flour, tapioca flour, taro, and sugar. Fruits and eggs were bought fresh that day. The bamboo bowls were washed and dried the night before.

Then, that morning, she asked Uncle Dazhi to take her and her mother to the market to buy eggs and fruits, and then delivered them to He's house. She didn't open the stall that day. After thinking about the details again and again, she felt that there was no problem, so Song Sanniang stopped.

I have to buy glutinous rice flour and sugar today, and some fruits for tomorrow. I have already bought peaches, so I will buy some other things.

Qin Haodong and his companion came back quickly today and handed the basket to Sanniang.

"We sold out again today. We have been running around Rich Street and Private School these past two days. People there are very generous. They pay for what they see immediately. They are not like those in other places who always like to bargain with us. Some even want to take things away without paying enough."

"Have you two forgotten something?" Song Sanniang said unhappily.

"What did you forget?" Qin Haodong and Qin Haonan looked at each other.

"Where are you going after you sell? What did I say yesterday?"

"We forgot about it." Qin Haodong slapped his head embarrassedly, and then wanted to run to Xishi.

"Take the basket, and be careful with the things inside." Song Sanniang quickly handed him the basket and put the wages in it.

The two men picked up the basket and ran away in a hurry.