The general kneels on the washboard again

After discussing with Ang Lee, the two went back home.

The idea that Yue Niang had a few days ago was almost ready to mature. Today's goal: to test the waters by selling fish.

That day, I borrowed an ox cart from Erya's family, and went to the town with a wooden barrel, two stoves, some simple tables, chairs, stools, seasonings and firewood.

Erya asked for food and pulled her cousin Zhao Xiaoming to drive the ox cart.

Every household in Nanshan Village has peach trees planted. Now is the time when peach blossoms are in full bloom. When the wind blows, it is indescribably pleasing to the eye.

Zhao Xiaoming is two years younger than Erya and still has a Fu hairstyle. His father is an ox cart driver, so he is also quite good at driving an ox cart.

Yue Niang often asked Erya to accompany her to the town, even if they didn't buy anything, they would just go shopping.

Although Yue Niang was a skilled fish cook, Er Ya wondered in her heart, looking at the large wooden barrel of fish marinated with onions, ginger, and garlic, "Yue'er, can this really be sold?"

Yue Niang looked at the fish pickled in the wooden barrel behind her and said, "Twenty cents for a serving of braised fish. They're sure to make a profit. On the market, a pound costs twenty cents."

Erya was even more confused about what Yue Niang was up to: "Then with this price, aren't you going to lose money?"

Erya was not worried about herself, because Yue Niang promised to pay her a daily salary. Fifty cents a day was indeed the money her father earned from chopping firewood for a day.

Yue Niang looked at Erya, who was at a loss for words, and smiled again: "Sister, selling braised fish was not my original intention. You will understand when the time comes."

Yue Niang's life of raising chickens, farming and fishing is slowly getting back on track. Food and clothing are no longer a problem, but Yue Niang wants to lie down more.

You can't count on the big house in Kyoto anymore. If you want a comfortable life, you have to create it yourself.

That day, Erya praised her craftsmanship, and she thought that there was an 80% chance that she could exchange this skill for money.

Erya didn't ask any more questions, but she had made up her mind that she would never take Yue Niang's wages.

Yue Niang taught her how to fish, how to raise silkworms, and even asked Ji Mama to teach her how to weave. She was very kind to her with so many skills.

There are two relatively large restaurants and a theater in Qingshi Town. The theater is full of outdated scripts and often doesn't put on a play for months.

All three are located in Qingshi Town, with excellent geographical locations.

The stall of several people was set up at the corner of the street not far from these three stores, and next to them was an aunt selling pearl hairpins and jewelry.

She did it right away, and even before any guests arrived, Yue Niang had already started working.

She leaned on a stool to make herself look not too short, but felt unreliable. Then she made one for Zhao Xiaoming and Erya, and brewed some tea that she had made herself.

The fragrance made passers-by stop and take a second look.

But when I saw that the 'chef' was a child, I still didn't have the courage to try it.

It was almost noon, and although Zhao Xiaoming and I had eaten and drunk our fill, we hadn't made a single deal.

Erya started to back out: "Yue'er, don't be too sad about this. If it really doesn't work out, let's go back."

Yue Niang said calmly, "Wait a little longer, sister. Don't panic."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw six or seven people dressed as scholars walking towards him from the opposite side of the street.

Leading the way is Ang Lee.

Li An invited his friends to sit down and said, "The fragrance in the bookshop just now came from here. Boss, how much is one copy?"

Erya, acting as the shopkeeper today, quickly replied, "Twenty cents a piece."

Zhao Xiaoming looked at Li An and said halfway: "Hey, you are not."

Erya nudged his arm, and he nodded in understanding and gave Yue Niang a thumbs up.

It was Li An who brought everyone here, and Erya also understood why Yue Niang was calm just now.

He ordered three servings in total. Although his friends didn't trust a child, they knew that the fragrance just now was indeed coming from here.

Besides, it’s rare that Ang Lee volunteered to treat us today, so let’s give it a try.

Erya poured them tea and went to help Yue Niang.

As this group of scholars sat down, a group of people eager to try gathered around the stall to watch the fun.

As soon as they took the first bite, one of them exclaimed, "Ah! I've never tasted anything so delicious."

The remaining few people also expressed their sour admiration.

The people waiting nearby finally had a reason to believe and started lighting up.

Li An also led his classmates to disperse.

Erya looked at Yue Niang who was cooking seriously and couldn't help but admire her. Some people understand the ways of the world at the age of nine, while some people are like children at the age of ninety.

The people brought by Li An left first. I don’t know where Li An changed his clothes, let his hair down, and then went back to the stall and worked as an accountant.

It was not until the night fell and the fish were gone that the stall returned to peace.

Yue Niang did a rough calculation and found that there were thirty-five copies in total. After deducting the 150 coins for the three people's wages and the three copies given by Li An, she still had about 400 coins left.

Erya was determined not to accept it at first, but Yue Niang said that if she didn't accept it, she would ask someone else for help in the future and not trouble her, so she had to accept it.

As they packed up their things and prepared to go home, they didn't notice a pair of wretched eyes staring at Arya from the corner of the street, muttering, "I think she'll fall into my hands this time!"

On the way back, Zhao Xiaoming and Li An chatted: "Why didn't you come with us this morning?"

Li An looked at Yue Niang and said, "Our young shopkeeper asked me to come to the bookstore early to buy some books. I pestered a few classmates until dinner time, pretending that I smelled a good fragrance."

Even the usually serious Li An couldn't help but laugh: "They didn't smell it, so I made a bet with them that this fragrance must exist. If they found it, I would treat them to a meal, and they just followed me for fun."

Erya also laughed: "Yue'er, you are so smart."

Li An was a little jealous: "I'm smart too. I really entangled them."

"Okay, Brother Li An, you keep talking sourly, and there's a few drops of vinegar behind it. Do you want to drink it?" Yue Niang laughed at Li An.

Zhao Xiaoming, who had initiated the topic, received fifty coins today and was very satisfied: "Yue Niang, will this good thing continue tomorrow?"

Yue Niang sighed heavily and said, "I won't continue tomorrow. Let's take a few days off. I've almost caught all the fish in the river."

Then he seemed to remember something and said, "Brother Xiaoming, you have a cow at home. How about I give you another twenty cents and you plow my half acre of paddy field?"

When Zhao Xiaoming heard that there was money to be made, he immediately agreed: "Okay, no problem. I promise to plow it for you tomorrow."

"Yue'er, are you going to plant rice?"

Yue Niang's face was as bitter as a melon: "Sister, I can't catch any fish. I want to raise some fish in the rice fields."

Erya once again expressed her appreciation for Yue Niang.

The group returned home chatting and laughing.

Old Mrs. Fu and Mother Ji were waiting for Yue Niang to come back for dinner.

A few people brought their things in, and Old Lady Fu called out, "Come and have dinner, you must be exhausted today."

That's how much she trusts Yue Niang.

When Zhao Xiaoming heard that it was time to eat, he quickly sat down at the table.

Ang Lee was the most reserved.

On the table were a bowl of white steamed buns, a bowl of bacon, a bowl of pickled vegetables, a bowl of scrambled eggs, a pot of fish soup, and a pot of rice. The dishes were no longer what they had been on the first day Yue Niang came in.

It's obviously for this group of people.

When she heard that Yue Niang had earned four hundred coins today and paid wages to several people, Mrs. Fu almost burst into tears.

In the past, when she had no worries about food and clothing, she could not understand what four hundred coins meant to a peasant family.

Those strong men could only earn a hundred coins a day by chopping wood, but Yue Niang earned four hundred coins a day.