A tragic journey through ancient times, trying to make money

"Hello, Shopkeeper Li."

"Hey, Miss Zhang is here, feel free to look at what you want to buy."

Zhang Yunyue looked at the cloth on the shelf behind the counter.

"Shopkeeper Li, I want blue fine cotton cloth."

Manager Li took out a piece of blue fine cotton cloth from the shelf at the back. Zhang Yunyue touched it with her hand and found it quite good. The color was also suitable for students. The students seen in Gongchong Private School today were all wearing blue gowns.

"Manager Li, look at my brother's height. I want to make him two sets of gowns. How much cloth do you think it will take?"

Shopkeeper Li looked at Zhang Xingfeng's height and made a rough calculation.

"15 feet is about right. I can also sew a book bag."

"Okay, then I'll have to trouble Shopkeeper Li to cut it to 15 feet. How much is it?"

"112 wen, just give 110 wen."

"Okay, thank you, Manager Li."

Zhang Yunyue took out a penny of silver and counted out 10 copper coins and handed them to Manager Li, then put the packed cloth in the backpack.

After walking out of the Jixiang Cloth Shop, Zhang Xingfeng kept his head down and didn't say anything, and Zhang Yunyue noticed it.

"Xiao Feng, what's wrong? I saw you didn't say anything after we came out of the bookstore. Why are you unhappy?"

Zhang Xingfeng looked up at his elder sister, knowing that all the money for the family had been earned by his elder sister in the past period of time. So much money had been spent and there was still a tuition fee to be paid tomorrow. He felt that he had no ability at all and could not help in any way.

"Sister, I will study hard in the future and make the money you spent worthwhile."

Only then did Zhang Yunyue realize that although her younger brother usually acted heartless, he was still very gentle and delicate in his heart. He held Zhang Xingfeng's hand with one hand and touched Zhang Xingfeng's head with the other.

"Sister and my family don't ask you to be outstanding or bring honor to the family. We just hope that our Xiaofeng will be a reasonable, knowledgeable and reasonable person in the future. Only in this way can you live up to the expectations of your family. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sister, I know. Don't worry, I will become the person you expect me to be in the future." Zhang Xingfeng nodded vigorously.

"Well, sister believes you. Let's go back. I think Second Uncle's mung bean jelly and cold noodles are almost sold out."

"Sister, let's go, let's go." After saying that, Zhang Xingfeng took Zhang Yunyue's hand and walked forward.

"Uncle, Aunt, has my second brother sold all his products?"

Zhu nodded, "Well, I've bought everything and am waiting for you to come back." She then looked at the basket Zhang Yunyue was carrying, "How is it, are Xiaofeng's things ready?"

"Everything is ready. I'll be waiting to sew a gown and a schoolbag for Xiaofeng when I get back."

"Okay, there are buns here. You two have been running all morning and must be hungry. Eat some buns to fill your stomach. Let's pack up first."

After they finished eating the buns, they helped Zhu and the others clean the stall, and then they got on the ox cart and set off for home.

When they arrived at the door of their home, Zhang Cheng stopped the ox cart. Zhu looked at the sleeping brother and sister and could only wake them up helplessly.

"Yueyue, Xiaofeng, wake up, we're home."

Zhang Yunyue woke up, rubbed her eyes and became more awake: "Ah, we are home. I fell asleep while riding the ox cart just now." Then she smiled at Zhu.

Then several people jumped off the ox cart, unloaded the things on the cart, and moved them into the yard. Seeing that there was nothing left on the ox cart, Zhang Cheng unloaded the cart from the ox's back and led the ox from the backyard into the cowshed.

Zhang Yunyue put the meat she bought into the well to cool it down, and then took out the books, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone she bought for Zhang Xingfeng, as well as the cloth for Xiaofeng and the silk threads for Xiaohua and the others from her backpack.

A few people went to town to have lunch.

Zhang Yunyue then told his family that Zhang Xingfeng was going to study tomorrow:

"Grandpa, grandma, mother, father, I have already asked for Xiaofeng's private school today. It is located in the Gongchong Private School in Guihua Lane at the junction of East Street and West Street. The teacher is very nice and has asked for the tuition fee. It is 3 taels per year and the monthly meal fee is 200 wen. The teacher said that Xiaofeng will go to school tomorrow."

Father Zhang: "You've found it now, how fast? Is it reliable? How is the teacher? Where is the private school?"

"Fortunately, I heard from customers at the stall before that there is a private school in Liaozhen. Several customers said that the teachers of this private school are good people and knowledgeable. Today I went directly to this private school and took a look at the environment, the private school, and the teachers. They are indeed very good."

Father Zhang: "That's fine. I'll go with you to send Xiaofeng to school tomorrow. By the way, Yueyue, what time does Xiaofeng go to school and get off school?"

"Master Zheng said that we should go to school at chen time and go to school at shen time."

"It's OK to go to school. We have a bullock cart at home, so we can leave a little earlier. But what should we do after school? Should we wait there at noon or go to the town to pick him up after practicing martial arts? This is a problem. It takes half an hour for the bullock cart to go to the town."

"Grandpa, Dad, Second Uncle, I actually thought about buying or renting a store in town before, but at that time, our mung bean jelly didn't have stable customers, and I couldn't take the risk of renting a store. That would be too risky.

Now I think the timing is right. I have green bean jelly and chili peppers at home. I also bought some meat today and plan to add some new flavors. By then, our workshop will have more flavors, so it will be more convenient to rent or buy a store.

By then, we can put a table near the door of the shop and sell our chili oil. We can also sell green bean jelly inside. I will think of a few more snacks, and people can sit inside the shop to eat. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient for my father and second uncle to go back and forth to the town every day.

Xiaofeng can also stay in the town with someone to take care of him. When he wants to go home, the oxcart will be back, which is also convenient. To be honest, everyone in the family has their hands on the mung bean jelly, which is a bit inappropriate.

It's a waste of talent. If I rent a shop, I can let my father or second uncle be the shopkeeper, and then hire two or three waiters, and there will be no problem. What do you think? "

Everyone was shocked by Zhang Yunyue's words. They didn't expect Yueyue to think so far ahead. But after thinking about it, it seemed that it was not impossible. The family currently had a stable income from oil chili.

Renting or buying a shop in the town can free up two laborers in the family. The main thing is that with a shop, the opening hours can be extended and the income can be increased. There is no need to worry about wind and sun, and Xiaofeng can rest in the town without any trouble. It is a win-win situation.

Grandpa Zhang looked at everyone and said, "What do you think? I think Yueyue's idea is very good."

Father Zhang: "I agree with what Yueyue said."

Second uncle Zhang Cheng: "I agree with what Yueyue said."

Grandpa Zhang looked at Grandma Zhang and said, "Okay, old lady, how much money do you have at home now?"

Grandma Zhang: "During this period, the family has had some income, which almost covered the cost of building the workshop. Although the peppers, yellow rice and vegetable oil cost a lot, Tianxianglou came to pick up the goods yesterday.