Song Sanniang's Journey to Wealth

Qin Haodong and his companion ran to the West Market and it took them a while to find the busy Song Laoer. It was the afternoon time when the women in the family came out to buy vegetables and prepare dinner, and the guests were all these women.

The saying that three women share one street is not false. Seeing Song Laoer's unfamiliar face and the new things he was selling aroused their curiosity.

"Hey, I haven't seen this stall of yours before."

"What are you selling? Can I have a taste?" a woman asked shamelessly.

"Yes, give us a bowl to try. You see, one bowl is just right for us."

This woman was used to making trouble, and after she finished speaking, she called on several women she knew in the crowd to come and take advantage of her.

"My brother sells a bowl of sugar water for several coins. You are so shameless." A woman who couldn't stand it said,

"The Chen family's seller hasn't said anything yet, what does it have to do with you? I didn't call you and you're jealous, right?" The Chen family immediately choked.

When Song Laoer saw Qin Haodong and the others, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You two come and help." Then he told them to bring sugar water to the customers.

He picked up two bowls and handed them to the woman who was kind enough to help. "The double skin milk and fruit jelly you asked for."

When he interrupted him, the man from the Chen family snorted sourly and turned away.

This kind-hearted woman was from the Liu family. She taught at the largest private school in Dajiang Town. Her monthly tuition was more than six taels, and she also received writing brushes, inkstones, and other supplies from the private school.

I live a very comfortable life, so I can't stand this kind of behavior of taking advantage of others.

With the help of Qin Haodong and his brother, the speed suddenly increased, and soon all the customers in front of the stall left. Only then did Song Laoer wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"Uncle Song, I'll let my brother help you here. I'll take some sugar water to sell at the dock." Qin Haodong is a smart boy.

"Okay, then take twenty bowls of taro paste and sweet soup, and five bowls of the others. The taro paste is selling slowly today." After saying that, Song Lao Er took the sweet soup from the bamboo basket for Qin Haodong.

Qin Haodong walked straight to the dock with the basket in his hand. When he arrived at the dock, he did not shout as he usually did. He first found a place to stand and observed for a while, then he came to the place where several large ships were docked and started shouting.

"Selling sugar water, milk sugar water, white, tender and smooth, sweet and delicious, the only one of its kind, come and buy it."

"Selling sweet soup, milk sweet soup, with plenty of ingredients, sweet taste, the sweet soup that all the young ladies in the He family love to eat"

Suddenly a dock supervisor called him and said, "Hey kid, come here, let me take a look."

Qin Haodong hurried over, replaced the basket he was holding with a hanging basket, and took out the sugar water to show the supervisor.

"Brother, look, this is double-skin milk, as smooth as egg custard, very delicious, six cents a bowl,

This is fruit jelly, sweet and smooth, eight cents a bowl, this is colorful taro meatballs, soft, sticky and sweet, ten cents a bowl, would you like a bowl?"

The man chuckled, a little vulgarly, "I like smooth and tender things the most, like a little girl's skin. Hey, give me a bowl of that double skin milk."

Qin Haodong was speechless in his heart, but his mouth and hands kept moving, "Haha, brother, hurry up and try it, I guarantee you will be satisfied with your six cents."

At this time, a boatman from one of the big boats shouted to the supervisor, "Supervisor He, I wish the supervisor asked you to bring this guy up."

Upon hearing this, Supervisor He finished the double skin milk in one breath and stuffed the bowl into the hands of a busy boatman.

"Wash it clean and bring it to me later." After saying that, he put his hand on Qin Haodong's shoulder and led Qin Haodong to the boat.

"I haven't seen you at the dock before. Is this your first time here? You're lucky this time. We wish the steward a group of ladies and girls at home.

Hehe, these are suitable for them. I will say something good for you later. You give me some benefits.

There are many managers at the docks here, and I know all of them. I will introduce them to you when the time comes, you know."

After saying that, he made a gesture of rubbing his right index finger and thumb together.

Qin Haodong's mind was working rapidly. He agreed to it first. At worst, he could deduct the kickback from his own salary. Now he could save about twenty cents a day after deducting the cost of food, accommodation and lodging.

Thinking of this, he smiled heartily, "Thank you, Supervisor He, but I am just a servant who has signed a contract. I am selling it for the master.

So, when we get off the boat, tell me your thoughts and I will go back and report to the master. Then I will give you an answer."

Supervisor He secretly regretted that he could not gain any benefit today, but he remained calm on the outside. "Your demeanor is really unlike that of a servant. What a pity..."

Qin Haodong knew that his so-called selling of body was not true, so he did not take it to heart.

"Brother thinks highly of me. I, Qin Haodong, thank you. What should I call you, brother?"

Supervisor He put down his hand that was on Qin Haodong's shoulder and shook off the goose bumps all over his body. "Just call me brother, kid. Calling me brother gives me goose bumps."

Then he said, "My full name is He Wangjiang. My grandfather asked a private school teacher to give me this name. When my grandfather went to see the teacher, the teacher was reading poetry at that time."

He paused for a moment, then made a gesture of gazing at the river view from afar and recited,

"Standing on a sandbar, I look at the river. The river never turns back. Life is like water flowing eastward. Don't force yourself to have a jade belt and a golden sable. Just be a guest at the foot of Luchuan City, climb up to the top and look at the envious seagulls. The grass at the end of the world is fragrant, and I am free to wander around the world."

After reading a poem, he sighed again, "This poem is called "Looking at the River", so I got this name. Look, now I really look at the river all day long." After saying this, he sighed.

Qin Haodong felt amused but said in an admiring tone, "Brother, you are really knowledgeable and can even recite poems."

"Haha, bullshit, I only know this one song, you can call me Brother Jiang from now on."

The two stopped talking at the right time before stepping into the cabin and walked in one after the other.

"Manager Zhu, someone is here." He Wangjiang said with a flattering smile.

I saw a fat middle-aged man wearing a silk gown sitting by the window of the boat, drinking tea leisurely, and a pretty maid was fanning him.

"Well, how's the moving going today?" he asked.

"The newly shipped silk, satin and linen have all been put into the warehouse. Now we are moving the dozens of baskets of fresh fruits we bought here onto the ship. If we move them two more times, you can set off before dark."

Manager Zhu nodded when he heard this, and then said to Qin Haodong, "I heard you shouting down there, it's interesting, let me see what you're selling."

Qin Haodong didn't need to step forward. The maid who was fanning him took the basket from Qin Haodong's hand, put it on the table, and then opened it. She looked at the bamboo bowls inside, all of which were covered with lids, and subconsciously looked at Qin Haodong.

Qin Haodong quickly said, "Miss, there are three kinds of sugar water in it. Look at the scratches on the lid. You can tell them apart by looking at one, two, or three scratches."

Then, while the maid was opening the syrup, he took the opportunity to introduce the differences and prices of each flavor.

The maid brought three bowls of sweet soup on a tray and said, "Master, this looks really strange. I have never seen such sweet soup before."

Manager Zhu tasted them one by one, then waved his hand, "Rui'er, don't you think they are fresh? You can eat the rest."

The tone was as if he was sending away kittens and puppies. Rui'er cursed the master inwardly for being so stingy. He always gave the servants the leftovers, unlike the steward of the next boat, who always bought an extra portion for the servants.

Qin Haodong spoke at the right time: "Does it suit Master Zhu's taste? I'm not bragging, but the He family often asks us to buy this sweet soup, and the young ladies in the He family love it."

Zhu Fugui wiped his mouth with a silk handkerchief in a pretentious manner, "As for the taste, it's OK, but I guess they didn't use enough sugar, it's not sweet enough."

"Master Zhu, you are wrong to blame us. If the syrup is to taste good, you can't put too much sugar in it. It should be sweet but not greasy, otherwise you will get sick of it after a few bites." After saying that, he added, "This is what our host's daughter said."

"Oh, I was saying, you don't look like someone who can make these things.

Okay, give me six bowls of the double-skin milk and two bowls of the taro paste, that's all."

Zhu Fugui thought that his wife and daughters at home would eat the more expensive food, while his concubines would eat the cheapest food.

"Master Zhu, I'm really sorry. There are only five bowls of this Shuangpi milk. Supervisor He just ate one bowl, and you ate one bowl, so there are only three bowls left. How about you change to something else?" Qin Haodong apologized.

"How many of those milk jelly ones are there?" Zhu Fugui asked again.

"You just ate a bowl of fruit jelly, and there are four bowls left."

"Then three bowls of double skin milk, three bowls of fruit jelly, and two bowls of taro paste sugar water." Zhu Fugui originally wanted to bargain further, but after hearing Qin Haodong say that they were the master's things, he knew that he could not make the decision, so he had to give up.

"Master Zhu, you need to send this sweet soup back to your house as soon as possible. It will go bad if you don't keep it for a long time." Qin Haodong reminded him.

"Old He, I'll trouble you to come to my house later." Zhu Fugui said to He Wangjiang with a smile.

He Wangjiang cursed in his heart, but responded happily with a yes.

Qin Haodong took the money and got off the boat with He Wangjiang. He Wangjiang said to Qin Haodong with a look of regret: "Brother Qin, I wanted to take you to other boats to meet the managers, but there is no other way. I can only leave now."

Qin Haodong didn't care, because after meeting Manager Zhu, he felt that he could do it alone. If He Wangjiang took him, he would have to give him a bonus next time. If he ran away by himself, he could save the money. When he met someone he couldn't handle, he could look for him. But he also looked regretful.

"I was hoping that Brother Jiang would guide me. It's okay. Thank you, Brother Jiang. Go and help Master Zhu. Maybe Madam Zhu will be happy and give you some money."

He Wangjiang knew that Mrs. Zhu was just like Mr. Zhu, both were poor and lonely, and it was a dream to deduct money from the couple, but he still smiled and said, "Then I'll leave, and I'll chat with you next time."

Qin Haodong started shouting again, and the next customers he met didn't think the ten-cent sweet soup was expensive, and they all paid for it, and the sales went smoothly.

Today, business in all three locations was very brisk; everything was sold out, not a single bowl left.

Song Laoer and Qin Haodong worked together and sold the goods very quickly. Song Laoer paid Qin Haodong and went with him to find Sanniang. Qin Haonan was still with Sanniang.

When they arrived at Sanniang's place, she was also packing up. Qin Haonan was eating a peach, the one that Wang Laoer had given him. Seeing that Qin Haonan was staying there obediently, Song Sanniang found him more and more adorable, so she took out the peach and gave it to him to eat.

"Little brother, where did you get the peaches?" Qin Haodong asked.

"Sister Song gave it to me. I wanted to keep it for my brother and I to eat together, but Sister Song wouldn't let me." Qin Haonan looked pitiful.

"It's just one peach, why keep it? I'll give another one to your brother. Stop pouting, you can afford a lot of money." Song Sanniang touched his head, then took out a peach from the backpack and handed it to Qin Haodong.

"Thank you, Miss Song. We will go back first." Qin Haodong thanked Song Sanniang and left happily with his brother.

Song Laoer stacked the bamboo baskets together and picked them up, then went to the grain and oil store with Song Sanniang to buy things. Song Sanniang had already bought all the fruits.

I bought 20 kilograms of glutinous rice flour, 10 kilograms of white sugar, and 5 kilograms of brown sugar. Brown sugar is used in smaller quantities, so there is no need to buy that much. I also bought 100 kilograms of brown rice and asked the boss to pack it in 50-kilogram bags so that it would be easier to carry later.

When Song Laoer and Song Sanniang arrived at the place where they were waiting for the bus, Song Dazhi was already waiting there. Seeing Song Laoer's full load, he quickly helped to load it onto the bus.

"Uncle Dazhi, why don't you see Brother Zuen?" Song Sanniang asked curiously.

"That kid is sensible. He said he can just come over to me after class." Just as he said that, he saw Song Zuen walking towards him.

After picking up Song Zuen, Song Dazhi set off without waiting for anyone.

"

"Aren't you waiting for others today?" Song Sanniang asked.

"Today the load is heavy, and we're afraid the ox will get tired if it carries a person on its back," Song Dazhi explained patiently.

"So that's how it is," Song Sanniang finally understood.

"Uncle Dazhi, are you free tonight and tomorrow?" Song Sanniang asked again.

"I'm free, what's the matter?"

"I received an order for the He family's eldest daughter's coming-of-age ceremony. The quantity is a bit large, and we don't have enough bamboo bowls at home. I would like to ask you to help make them, and Uncle Niu San will also help. One penny for a set, bamboo bowl, lid and spoon."

Song Lao Er wondered, "Why didn't I know about this?"

"Dad, Uncle He came to me this afternoon and told me that, but I didn't have time to say anything."

"Sanniang, when will it start? I'll be there after dinner." Song Dazhi asked

So, on the way back today, there was no sound of reading, but instead the sound of several people discussing and talking.

After returning to Songjia Village, Song Dazhi directly dropped off Song Zuen, drove the car to take Song Laoer and his daughter and their belongings home, helped move the things in, and then went home to cut bamboo.

He planned to bring his old father along to make money together. Although his father was old, his craftsmanship was always better than that of the younger generation.

The fourth and fifth daughters pounced on Song Sanniang like little butterflies.

"Sisters, you are back." Song Sanniang hugged the two of them and found that their heads and bodies were covered with debris and they were sweating.

"Where have you two been? Why are you like this?"

Si Niang quickly responded, "Sister, let's go help Third Uncle make the bowls."

Wu Niang then said, "We have ground so many bowls that our hands are sore." Then she stretched out a pair of hands that were indeed red from grinding.

Song Sanniang touched the two girls' heads respectively, blew on their hands, then took them into the kitchen, gave them some fruit to eat, broke off a banana for each of them, and watched them eat with relish.

Mrs. Song, who was standing by, scolded, "Now that you've eaten the banana, you don't need to eat later. Next time, you can't eat before dinner."