My humble days in ancient times

On the morning of the first day of the new year, Guo Huai was alone dealing with the beggars. There were a lot more people than before, about forty or so.

Guo Huai couldn't help but sigh: "There are no people from Xujia Village. Wang Erdan didn't come this year. They are all from nearby villages."

After begging in Guo Huai, they went to Xujia Village in groups.

The chicken coop is also busy this year.

Xu Ruyi was thinking of recruiting another person, and Ye Xiaomei ran over excitedly when she heard about it.

Ye Xiaomei said, "I'll go. I'm already ten years old." Her eyes were full of anticipation.

Xu Ruyi nodded: "Okay. The salary will be the same as your mother's, 800 wen a month."

Ye Xiaomei happily killed the chicken with Widow Wang.

Widow Wang said, "You are so young, just stay at home and have fun!" She looked at Ye Xiaomei with a loving expression.

Ye Xiaomei shook her head and said firmly, "It's better to make money early!"

The chicken coop is certainly busier this year than last.

Villagers came over to sell chickens, and Aunt Li and Mrs. Jiang were sometimes so busy that they also had to collect the chickens.

Aunt Li couldn't help but complain: "When I'm busy, I'm so busy. When I'm free, I'm so idle."

"That's right. Spring and autumn are the busiest times. We're busy collecting chickens and eggs, and raising chicks. Summer and winter are more leisurely," Jiang echoed.

Widow Wang smiled and said, "I am indeed busy in winter. Everyone loves to eat chicken in winter!"

A few people were chatting and laughing, which made the busy atmosphere a lot more relaxed.

When the weather was warm, the sun shone gently on the earth, and Xu Ruyi enthusiastically looked for someone to pave the road.

The road starts from the chicken coop and extends straight all the way to the village entrance. Then it is magnificently paved from the village entrance all the way to the wide road leading to the county town.

Shopkeeper Zhao happened to pass by and saw this scene. He couldn't help but give a thumbs-up and praised, "Qinghe Ruyi is great. I heard that last year he gave away peaches to the villagers for free, and they were all big, red peaches. At such a young age, he can do such a kind deed. It's really not easy!"

"The eldest lady and the eldest master are indeed very nice people." The people around them hurriedly responded, their faces full of admiration.

"Now that the road has been paved, it's really convenient for me. I'm so happy." Shopkeeper Zhao smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed into slits, and his joy was beyond words.

The village was bustling with activity, with many villagers busily building houses. The Hu family, Huang Guiyun's, Doctor Qian's... one family after another built, their shouts and the clanging of hammers intertwined in the bustling atmosphere, giving a strong sense of the village's thriving development.

When the peaches were ripe, Xu Dashan and Hu Shi returned to tend the orchard. Although they only came when the peaches were half-grown, their total time there was only about three months. However, because they diligently tended the orchard day and night, they earned one tael of silver per person per month. After three months, the two of them had earned six taels of silver, a considerable income.

Mrs. Hu was very satisfied with this. When she visited Taoyuan, she asked Xu Dafu to help take care of the chickens raised at home.

By the time the peaches were ripe, Wang Erdan's foot had long since healed.

He came over excitedly to help pick peaches, but the boy was dishonest and secretly ate the peaches when no one was paying attention.

Seeing this, Mrs. Hu hurriedly said, "Don't eat it, pick some peaches!"

Wang Erdan quickly finished his meal in three or five bites, wiped his mouth casually with his hand and said, "Okay."

This year's peaches are big and red, and two carts can be picked every day. Zhou Yifan drives the two carts to the county town to sell them.

Xu Qinghe suggested, "Why don't we go to the capital and try selling it?"

Xu Ruyi responded without hesitation: "Okay, let's give it a try."

So the next day, at daybreak, everyone got up and started picking peaches.

After picking up two cars, Xu Qinghe said to Jiang Jingchen solemnly, "Be careful on the road."

Jiang Jingchen nodded and drove the carriage hurriedly to the provincial capital.

After picking the juicy peaches, we start picking the yellow peaches.

Xu Ruyi, Xu Xiaohua and the cook were busy making canned yellow peaches.

Batches of canned yellow peaches were delivered to a shop in the provincial capital, which was a shop with an excellent location that Xu Qinghe had specially bought.

Some canned yellow peaches are sent directly to other cooperating stores.

Canned yellow peaches quickly became popular among everyone.

Shopkeeper Zhao came over quickly and said anxiously, "Qinghe, Ruyi, I want to sell your canned yellow peaches on your behalf."

Xu Ruyi responded promptly, "Sure, but although these canned yellow peaches have a shelf life of about a year, it's best to sell them out before the New Year."

Shopkeeper Zhao nodded repeatedly: "I understand."

With the help of Manager Zhao, Xu Ruyi began to boldly devote himself to production.

Two carts of yellow peaches are taken out for sale every day, and then the picked ones are continuously made into canned yellow peaches.

This canned yellow peach is also named Ruyi canned yellow peach.

Xu Ruyuan said coquettishly, "It seems like everything in the house is called Ruyi or something like that..."

"Yeah, a little jealous, aren't you?"

"I'm envious." Xu Ruyuan said with a playful look on his face.

This year, Xu Ruyuan opened a second Ruyi Dumplings restaurant with great ambition. This restaurant is located near the Ruyi fast food restaurant in Fucheng, in a very good location.

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "In fact, we can open one or two more stores in the county town. After all, the county town is big. But now that we have found a suitable store in the provincial capital, it is the same to open a store in the provincial capital." Her eyes were full of expectations for the future.

"That's how business works. It's not that you just want to open a store and then there happens to be a store you like waiting for you." Xu Qinghe looked calm, as if he was already accustomed to the volatility of the business world.

Xu Ruyi nodded in agreement.

Later, when Xu Qingyan was ten years old, he was sent to a school in the provincial capital.

Xu Ruyi said: "I bought a yard near the school in the county town, which is where Lei Da's Ruyi fast food restaurant is. I didn't expect that you would end up going to the school in the prefectural city." There was a hint of surprise in her tone.

"Is the provincial capital better than the county town?" Xu Qingyan asked excitedly, his eyes full of curiosity.

Xu Ruyi patiently said, "It all depends on whether you study hard. As long as you work hard, it won't matter where you are."

Xu Qingyan seemed to be thinking about something, and seemed to understand a little.

This year, Xu Qinghe was already sixteen years old. He was handsome, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and an upright figure. He was a man of great talent and could attract a lot of attention wherever he went.

During this year, Shopkeeper Zhao often brought his daughter with him. Every time he came to get chili sauce, he would go to Xu's house to find Xu Qinghe and Xu Ruyi.

Shopkeeper Zhao's daughter, Zhao Xinyue, was fourteen years old. She was very delicate, with eyebrows like distant black ink and eyes like autumnal waves. Her smile was particularly gentle, and the shallow dimples on her cheeks added a touch of sweetness.

Shopkeeper Zhao said to Zhao Xinyue, "This is your elder brother Xu Qinghe, and this is your younger sister Ruyi."

Zhao Xinyue came over gracefully and smiled: "Hello, Brother Qinghe, Hello, Sister Ruyi." Her voice was clear and pleasant, like a yellow oriole singing in a valley.

Xu Qinghe was a little unaccustomed to such a scene, but he didn't refuse for the sake of Zhao the shopkeeper's face: "Hello, Sister Xinyue."

Xu Ruyi also smiled sweetly: "Hello, Sister Xinyue."

Several people were chatting and laughing in the reception room, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

When he finally left, Shopkeeper Zhao said with emotion: "The child has grown up now, so I can't keep him here anymore." There was both relief and a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

Xu Qinghe smiled and said, "Manager Zhao, you're joking. Since you love her so much, it's good for her to stay at home for a few more years. As for me, I just want to have some fun for a few years and get married when I'm around 20 years old."

Shopkeeper Zhao smiled awkwardly: "When people are young, they all like to play and want to play."

After Manager Zhao left, Xu Ruyi looked at Xu Qinghe and couldn't help laughing.