Song Sanniang's Journey to Wealth

Song Sanniang first went to the gift shop to count the last batch of mooncake boxes, settled the bill, and then asked Manager Yan to arrange the delivery.

When she was about to leave, Shopkeeper Yan called her. She was a little puzzled, so she followed Shopkeeper Yan to the guest table and sat down.

"I won't beat around the bush. I sent two boxes of the mooncakes you made to my boss.

The boss thinks you have great skills and good taste, and wants to buy your mooncake recipe. "Shopkeeper Yan poured a cup of tea for Song Sanniang and said,

Song Sanniang was stunned for a moment after hearing this, so she thought for a moment and asked, "What price would he like to pay for my formula?"

Shopkeeper Yan was a little embarrassed because he felt that the price his boss offered was very unfair, but he had no choice. He was just the shopkeeper, so he still asked, "Five hundred taels."

When a normal person hears that a mooncake recipe costs five hundred taels, they would think it is a great thing and would quickly agree.

But Song Sanniang and Manager Yan both knew that this price was the price Song Sanniang paid for a batch of mooncakes.

"Uncle Yan, please tell your boss that I don't think this price is appropriate, and I don't plan to sell this formula for the time being."

Song Sanniang refused without hesitation. She refused out of instinct.

But after refusing, she thought that since others wanted to buy her formula, she could open her own store and sell it. Wouldn't she make more money that way? She put this matter in mind for the time being.

Shopkeeper Yan was a little embarrassed. He remembered what his boss had said.

"She's just a little girl, her family is all farmers, and if she sells a recipe for 500 taels, her whole family should be very happy.

Besides, who would buy mooncakes after this festival?

You should persuade her to take the money, buy a good dowry, and find a good family for herself."

He shook his head. His boss really thought that this girl was easy to fool. Since he was optimistic about this girl, he didn't want to make enemies, so her rejection was also within his expectations.

Shopkeeper Yan put down the tea in his hand and said with a laugh, "Okay, I'll convey it to you. It's okay. If you don't want to sell it, then don't sell it. When it comes to buying and selling, it all depends on mutual consent."

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while, and then Song Sanniang left.

When Song Sanniang returned, Song Laoer had sold all the remaining mooncakes, so the two of them bought some vegetables, found Song Dazhi, and returned to Songjia Village.

When they returned, Boss Song and the other three were all up. The gift shop had just delivered the mooncake boxes, and everyone helped to unload the mooncake boxes.

After the people from the gift shop left, Song Ersao and her friends started packing the mooncakes, while Song Sanniang, Song Lao Da and the others settled the bill at the table.

After deducting the cost of the mooncake boxes, the mooncakes I sold in the city totaled 509 taels and 4 cents, not including the pocket money for meals and car rentals.

Song Lao Da and Niu Lao San each received fifty taels, nine cents and four coins.

Together with the money from the mooncakes sold today, each of the six helpers including my grandmother had thirteen taels, four qian and seven wen. Song Sanniang gave the money to everyone present.

Although Boss Song and Niu Lao San knew how much money there was, they were still shocked when they actually got the money. Boss Song was lucky, as he had received sixty taels of silver before.

Niu Laosan never made much money in his life. When he was young, he relied on his parents, and when he grew up, he relied on his sister. Before his sister got married, she arranged everything for him, built a house for him, and helped him find a wife, hoping that he would live a good life and take care of his elder brother.

Even so, he could only make sure that his eldest brother had enough food and clothes. Niu Lao Da has not yet started a family because he really can't afford to spend any money.

Old Niu is not a smart guy, and his family doesn't like any good girl, so he remains single. Now he is old and it is even harder for him to find a wife. Some families demand dozens of taels of silver as a dowry, which is something that Old Niu can't afford.

He had helped Song Lao Er make bamboo bowls and sold milk before, and saved some money. He was very happy.

He had just made a trip to the capital to sell mooncakes and he had received fifty taels of silver. He knew that this was Song Lao Er using his own money to subsidize him. He knew that he had no ability to repay him and could only keep his gratitude in his heart.

Boss Song was also restless. He had been thinking that he had lost his job and only had a few dozen taels of money.

My two sons still have to take the imperial examinations, and the few dozen taels of silver won't last long. I was still worrying about what I could do to make money, and my second brother gave me this opportunity to make money.

There was nothing he could do but to think that he would help his second brother's family more in the future.

Finally, it was Qin Haodong's turn. Song Sanniang settled the bill with him only after Song Lao Da and the others left. She calculated the expenses of helping him buy a house and then deducted the previous money. Qin Haodong finally received twenty-one taels, eight cents and seven wen.

Qin Haodong had nothing more to say. He took the money and thanked Song Sanniang. He kept all the kindness in his heart. He hoped that Haoxi could study hard, pass the exam and become a scholar so that he could help the Song family in the future.

The three grandmothers also got the money and put it in their arms. After washing their hands, they continued to make mooncakes, with smiles on their faces all the time.

After telling Song Lao Da and Niu Lao San that they would come over for dinner in the evening, Song Ersao and Song Sanniang started preparing dinner in the kitchen.

Tonight's dishes include braised pig's trotters with soybeans, scallion chicken, stir-fried cucumber with lean meat, braised eggs, stir-fried lettuce, fried egg, lean meat and white radish soup,

Just as dinner was ready, Song Lao Da and Niu Lao San arrived. Everyone sat down and had dinner together. Song Lao Er wanted to drink the leftover wine from last time, but was stopped by Song San Niang.

Are you kidding? I have to rush to the capital the next day. If I drink, isn't that drunk driving? Drunk driving harms others and yourself.

Song Lao Er scratched his head and had to put the wine back. Song Lao Da felt a little regretful as he had wanted to drink a little, but considering the safety issue, everyone listened to Song Sanniang.

"Then let's wait until next time. I'll find a day after the Mid-Autumn Festival and invite Dazhi and the others to come over so we can have a meal together." Song Lao Er laughed.

Boss Song and his companions all responded with a smile, and everyone continued to eat.

After dinner, Song Lao Er mentioned that Song Sanniang should also go to the capital city. Song Lao Da and the others had no objection.

However, Song Ersao felt that it was not appropriate for a little girl like Song Sanniang to go out with several grown men and spend the night together, so she wanted to go with them too.

Song Lao Er thought about it and felt that it was not a good idea, so he agreed. But then Si Niang and Wu Niang were not happy and insisted on going with them. Of course Song San Niang would not let them go, so she bribed them.

"Do you want me to bring you gifts? Do you know how many fun things there are in the city? If you don't make a fuss, I and mom will bring you fun and delicious food."

Si Niang saw Song Ersao looking at her with dangerous eyes and nodded quickly. Only Wu Niang was still a little confused about the situation. She muttered that we could also buy delicious food and fun things in the provincial capital, so we should go too.

Si Niang looked at Song Ersao, pulled Wu Niang aside and whispered to her for a while, and then Wu Niang stopped making a fuss.

My second aunt and several others also came to work. Second Aunt Song gave them yesterday's wages. They happily took the money and started working.

Song Ersao and Song Sanniang packed some spare clothes for the next day. Song Sanniang also asked Song Ersao to bring the towels she usually used.

Because I don't know if the inn provides towels, and the ones provided may not be clean. In the current weather, I can sleep with just the bedding, so I don't need to cover myself with a quilt.

While Song Ersao was saying that Song Sanniang was poor and picky, she honestly took out the newly bought towels and said, "These two towels are prepared for your father. Let's use them as pillows to sleep on for one night. I don't know how many people have slept on those beds, so we should spread them out."

After saying that, he took out a thin sheet and said, "This is the sheet that I brought as a dowry. I was reluctant to use it, so I brought it with me this time."

Song Sanniang found it funny to see Song Ersao slowly packing these things out of a set of clothes.

The next day, just after dawn, Huang Shi Tu arrived in a donkey cart. Everyone loaded the mooncakes, fed the donkey food and water, and prepared to set off.

Seeing the things of Song Ersao and Song Sanniang, Song Lao Da and Niu Lao San couldn't help but laugh. Song Lao Da even asked, "Aren't you only going for one day? Why do you bring so much luggage?" This made Song Ersao and her daughter feel embarrassed.

This time, there were two more people, Song Ersao and Song Sanniang, and they were in the same car with Qin Haodong. Niu Laosan got in the car of Song Lao Da and his friends. If Qin Haodong got tired on the road, someone else would take over the driving.

Si Niang and Wu Niang were still sleeping, leaving Song Lao Er alone to watch the donkey cart disappear from his sight.