Song Sanniang's Journey to Wealth

The head of the Song clan is named Song Youcai. His eldest son is Song Dahe, who has three children: Song Zufang, Song Zuxing, and Song Zuda. All of them are married and have sons and daughters.

The second son, Song Dahua, had three children, Song Zude, Song Zuze, and Song Zuhai. All of them are married and have a son and a daughter.

The third son, Song Datong, had two sons, Song Zuren and Song Zumei. Both were unmarried. Song Zuren was currently seeking marriage.

Song Dazhi has two brothers and sisters, Song Zuen.

The youngest daughter, Song Baozhu, gave birth to a son and a daughter, Tan Yongxin and Tan Dandan.

The Song clan leader's house used to be a mud brick and tile house with the same layout as the second brother Song's bamboo house.

Later, as his sons were born, the house gradually became too small to accommodate them.

Considering that they would have to marry and have children in the future, he bought the houses or vacant land near his house.

He spent all his family wealth to expand the house into a two-story stone brick and tile house with a patio for each of his four sons. After his sons got married and had children, it would depend on them whether the house would be big enough for them.

After they all got married, had children and moved into their own houses, the Song clan leader renovated the old house.

Some of the previous rooms were converted into study rooms, and the living room was expanded to accommodate the entire family for meals.

Now his eldest son's family and grandchildren all live in Tanlin Village where the head of the village is. He has rented a hill there to plant fruit trees and only comes back during festivals and to harvest rice.

After the autumn harvest, the second son took the eldest son to help the head of the village.

The rest of the people who stayed at home were busy finishing the autumn harvest and making bamboo bowls. Now they were called to the ancestral home by Patriarch Song to discuss the sale of snails.

To make bamboo bowls, every family except the eldest family sends one person to work together every day, and the money is divided equally. Of course, the patriarch also gets a share because he does the most work.

There are many thoughts when there are many people. Although the family has been living separately, everyone has their own thoughts. He talked about selling snails.

The second daughter-in-law, He, spoke first, "Dad, we have a big family, we can do it."

The third son and Song Dazhi didn't say anything, but the third daughter-in-law Tian said, "This was told by our Zuren, so he should have a share."

The Song clan leader asked Song Dazhi, "Old Four, where is your family?"

Song Dazhi has few children, so the pressure is not that great. Besides, in addition to the share of the income from making bamboo bowls, he also earns transportation fare every day, so he doesn't want to get involved.

"Dad, we won't participate. Zuen is about to go to school, and my wife and Zuling are busy making bamboo bowls every day, so they are busy too."

After hearing what Song Dazhi said, the Song clan leader spoke.

"Then the second and third brothers will do it.

Second daughter-in-law, you have a large family, so you are responsible for picking and processing the snails.

The old woman is good at cooking, so let her cook.

Zuren from the third family followed Sanniang's cart to sell sweet soup every day.

The second son's family gets 60% of the money earned, the third son's family gets 30%, and the old woman gets 10%. "

Although this decision seems a bit unfair, it is based on Patriarch Song's own considerations. After all, the second son's family has more children and contributes more, so naturally they will get a bigger share of the profits.

The old wife of Song clan leader Liu said angrily, "You old man, I just helped the children move the spatula, but you still want to pay me? I don't want it."

Of course, the second daughter-in-law, He and Song Datong, did not dare to follow their mother's advice, and hurriedly spoke up.

"Mom, just keep this money. You should take it."

"Yes, mother, this money is our tribute to you."

After some persuasion, Liu finally agreed with a smile.

Suddenly Song Zuling burst into laughter, and everyone looked at her with puzzled expressions.

Song Zuling had no choice but to say something that spoiled the mood.

"We don't even know if we can make money yet, but we've already started dividing the money."

Song Dazhi's wife, Xiao Liu, slapped her arm.

"You are such a jinx. You have no right to talk nonsense when the adults are talking. Go back to your room immediately."

Song Zuling was also afraid of being scolded further, so she had to return to her room in shame.

The Song clan leader cleared his throat and said, "Girl Ling is right. This job may not make money.

You must not complain when the time comes. If anything gets to my ears, don’t blame me, an old man.”

He and Song Datong hurriedly said they didn't dare, so the head of the Song clan ordered them to continue picking snails with lanterns at night, pick up more, keep them overnight, and they would be able to catch up in time for the first sale the next day.

The next day, Song Dazhi's ox cart had a bucket of fried snails with basil, a basket of fried crabs, and a snail boy named Song Zuren.

Song Zuren was a little shy, his face flushed, and he couldn't say anything.

Song Sanniang felt bad for him. "Sixth brother, what do you want to say?"

Song Lao Er laughed when he saw his face. "Ren boy, why are you blushing? Just say what you want to say."

Song Zuren could only stammer, "Can I, can I go with you? I'm a little scared."

Song Sanniang replied cheerfully, "What's the big deal? Just follow me and stand next to me."

The heavy stone in Song Zuren's heart was instantly put down, and he was no longer so panicked.

Song Sanniang asked him how he planned to sell it.

"They are two cents each, and each contains one spoon." His spoon was the size of an adult woman's fist.

Song Sanniang took a look at his snails and gave him an opinion.

"I think you have about 50 or 60 kilograms here, and you can probably sell about 100 servings." She estimated that one spoonful weighed about half a kilogram.

Before she finished speaking, Song Zuren asked in surprise, "Can you sell so many?"

"It looks about the same, your portion is about 8 taels, but I suggest you sell it in small, medium or large portions.

A small portion costs two cents for one spoonful.

A medium portion costs two and a half spoonfuls and five cents.

The large portion is three full spoons for ten cents, and comes with a small fried crab.

Crabs are too cheap at two cents. I would have wasted the money I would have spent on gas.

You charge five cents for a small portion, ten cents for a large portion, and a small portion of snails for free."

Song Zuren thought about it carefully, and it was equivalent to selling six and a half spoons for seventeen cents. If he sold it in his own way, he could only make about twelve cents from six and a half spoons.

The same goes for crabs. According to Sanniang's method, a large portion is equivalent to three small portions, which means that four small portions can be sold for fifteen cents, but his family can only sell them for eight cents.

He stared at Song Sanniang with shining eyes and said, "Third sister, your idea is great. I will sell it according to your suggestion."

Song Sanniang shuddered, "Sixth brother, you should just call me Sanniang. Third sister is too corny."

Song Zuren scratched his head embarrassedly and said, "Okay."

When they arrived at the East Market, Song Lao Er helped Song Zuren carry the snails in, and then Song Zuren helped pick the sugar water.

The two stalls were placed together. At first, they were not connected to each other. It was Song Sanniang who asked other stall owners to move them.

After setting up the stall, Song Zuren did the same thing as Song Sanniang did when she first set up the stall. He just sat on the small stool in a daze, watching the people coming and going.

Song Sanniang thought it was funny, as if she saw herself in the past.

So she asked Song Zuren to take some snails and taste them.

Well, it tastes delicious, with a strong basil flavor.

The snails were cleaned very well, without any sand in them, and the tails were removed.

Use a bamboo stick to remove the shell, and suck it into your mouth. The thick and fragrant snail meat and juice will be sucked into your mouth.