My humble days in ancient times

Huang Guiyun got angry when she saw this: "Why did you knock over my things? I already returned the money to you. Will you compensate me?"

The man was also angry: "You also want to compensate me, you have ruined my mood so early in the morning?"

Huang Guiyun was stunned: "So many people ate it and nothing happened, why are you the only one who has such a problem? You knocked over my food, you have to pay for it."

The man was not afraid: "Then come with me to the government office and let the officials judge the matter. If it doesn't work, call the officials over and let them taste what you cooked to see if it's edible."

The quarrel drew a crowd of onlookers. Huang Guiyun shuddered at the mere mention of the word "government." She felt so guilty that she couldn't even speak clearly.

Soon, two patrol officers approached. Everyone made way for them, and one, fat and one, thin, stepped forward. One of them, the fat man with a beard, asked, "What's going on? What are all these people doing together?"

The customer said, "Brother Constable, the thing is, the food she made is terrible."

Huang Guiyun said, "The constable took charge for me. He said my stuff was bad, and I returned the money, but he still wouldn't give in and knocked over my stuff. I want him to compensate me for my losses."

"It's still a loss. Why didn't you tell me that you wasted my time and affected my mood? An adult can't even make as good food as two children. This is so disgusting that even pigs and dogs can't eat it. It's infuriating to both humans and gods."

The constable understood what was happening and said, "Since the things have been spilled, compensation must be paid."

The customer was dissatisfied when he heard this: "The food is too disgusting. If you don't believe me, try it, Constable. She is harming others and herself by setting up a stall."

After hearing this, the constable said to Huang Guiyun, "Now make me an omelet and let me try it."

Huang Guiyun hesitated and said, "Brother Constable, look, everything has been spilled. It's hard to cook without the ingredients."

The constable looked at the mess on the ground and fell into deep thought.

The customer immediately said, "Brother Constable, don't you see that her jars are all filled with sauce and chili oil? You can make one or two of those ingredients."

The constable nodded and said, "Make one now. I want to try it."

Huang Guiyun reluctantly made one. The detective took one bite and spat it out: "Damn, this is not for human consumption. It's so disgusting, even pigs and dogs wouldn't eat it."

Huang Guiyun was extremely scared.

The constable said to the man, "You have to pay her twenty cents, and she can't set up a stall here anymore."

The man took out the money, feeling indignant.

The thin constable took out a pen and paper and said, "Tell me your names and addresses."

Huang Guiyun panicked: "Brother Constable, isn't the matter already resolved? Why do you still need to write down names or something?"

The thin constable said, "This is my duty. Tell me your name and address quickly."

Huang Guiyun was extremely reluctant to reveal his name and address, so the detective wrote it down and told everyone to disperse. It didn't really matter whether he wrote it down or not. Why would he write it down? Sometimes it was just for show to scare troublemakers.

Huang Guiyun packed up his things and went back in shame.

Huang Guiyun is an indomitable warrior. She changed her location the next day: Anyway, I was not allowed to set up a stall here, but they didn’t say I couldn’t go somewhere else.

But she has to change the place every few days, otherwise there will be no business after a few days. If the food is not delicious, she has to change the place, otherwise no one will come after a long time.

But the good times didn't last. One day, she ran into a tough opponent, also a woman. After eating, she found the food unpalatable and started yelling and raving, complaining about it to everyone who came and telling them not to buy. Huang Guiyun had no choice but to pack up and leave. By the time she arrived at the other place, the sun was already high in the sky and it was already late, so no one had eaten breakfast.

After going through this a few times, Huang Guiyun gave up and could only sulk at home.

Someone saw her not setting up her stall and asked, "Why didn't you go to the stall today?"

Huang Guiyun deliberately said: "Oh, I can't stand getting up early and going to bed late every day. I still can't make this money!"

When these words reached Widow Wang's ears, she scoffed: "I met her in town before and bought her an egg pancake. It tasted terrible and I couldn't eat a single bite. I don't know what she was thinking. Can't she try it herself? Or did she try it herself and know it tasted terrible, but still sell it?"

Despite this, Huang Guiyun still earned some money.

Xu Ruyi and his sister, however, remained as usual. Their recent income from rice dumplings and boiled eggs was higher than before. Although they were busy and tired, the sight of the money brought them joy.

Xu Ruyi suggested: "Let's go back and dig up the vegetable patch today and plant some vegetables."

Xu Qinghe said, "That little bit of land behind the house isn't a waste. We don't even have any land yet. Why don't we ask the village head if he has any land for sale?"

"You can ask, but land is usually sold after the busy farming season. People always wait until the current season's crops are harvested before selling."

Unexpectedly, after closing their stall, they returned home to find that the vegetable patch had already been dug. Xu Dafu, Li Shi, and Xu Dachuan came to help.

Li said, "Plant the vegetables in the afternoon."

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "Grandpa, grandma, and dad, please stay for lunch!"

Several people were not polite either.

Li said, "I'll go back to the vegetable garden and dig some vegetables."

Usually, after Xu Ruyi closes his stall, he'll go shopping and finally return by oxcart, which is about the time for lunch. Sometimes, one person will work the stall while the other goes shopping, and then he'll be back earlier, so he can get back earlier. There's no set time, but he'll be back around that time, with pretty much no difference.

Because the business was unique, it was booming. Xu Ruyi was also very generous with her money, and now she practically ate meat every day. The complexions of the others had become plump these days. Xu Ruyuan and Xu Qingyan, in particular, looked more and more like lucky dolls. Their clean clothes and fair skin made them look nothing like the village kids.

Xu Ruyi looked at the dishes and steamed some white rice. Then she cooked six dishes. Xu Ruyi didn't like leftovers and preferred to always cook fresh. So, as long as there was enough food, it was fine.

The six dishes were: braised pork, braised fish, spicy tofu, ants climbing trees, steamed egg custard, cold shepherd's purse, and finally vegetable and egg soup.

At this time, all vegetables are seasonal. There are no greenhouses, so there are no seasonal vegetables. All are pure natural green foods and vegetables. The rice is particularly fragrant, the vegetables are also very delicious and harmless to the human body.

Everyone was very satisfied with the meal. Mrs. Li praised: "Ruyi has grown up, and his cooking has become more and more delicious. He is much better than an old woman like me. This braised pork is especially soft and delicious, and the Ants Climbing Tree is also good."

Xu Qingyan said: "Everything that Big Sister cooks is delicious. The tofu is delicious, the meat is delicious, and the fish is delicious."

Xu Dafu said the most brilliant thing in his life: "This is called each generation is stronger than the previous one."

Everyone laughed.

Xu Dachuan spoke up: "Ruyi Qinghe, why don't you wear better clothes?"

Xu Qinghe smiled and said, "You don't know, there is fumes when making egg pancakes, and good clothes can't be worn well."

Xu Ruyi suddenly realized: "I forgot, we should make an apron."

"Yes, yes, yes..." Everyone agreed.

"Just like the chef in a big restaurant, wear a piece of cloth around your neck." Xu Qinghe smiled brightly.

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "There's a bag on the neck, and a piece of cloth below the neck, which just covers the clothes, so that the clothes won't get dirty."

After dinner, Xu Ruyi was drawing some patterns on paper. Xu Ruyuan came over and said, "Sister, I can do it."

Xu Ruyi nodded and chose a pattern. Then Xu Ruyi and Xu Qinghe went to the river to pick leaves for the rice dumplings.

Xu Ruyi glanced at the river and asked, "Brother, can you swim?"

Xu Qinghe laughed: "I know a little bit. I used to go to the river with Da Niu and Da Hu to play secretly."

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "Brother, why don't you teach us? The four of us brothers and sisters should all be able to swim, so we won't be afraid of falling into the water in the future."

Xu Qinghe hesitated and said, "No way, if grandpa, grandma and dad knew, they would beat me to death."

"We learn secretly and don't let them know."

Xu Qinghe nodded: "Okay!"