My humble days in ancient times

This time, when they set up their stall again, the brother and sister stopped selling zongzi. The reed leaves around Xujia Village were almost all picked.

After closing the stall, the brother and sister went to the vicinity of the academy.

There is a street of shops near the academy. When the students are in lectures, the street is quite deserted, with few people coming and going.

People in the shops along the street would turn their heads to take a look when they saw the brother and sister pulling the donkey cart.

Xu Ruyi looked at the shops on both sides and found that none of them were for rent.

Xu Ruyi refused to give up and headed straight for the pawnshop. When the pawnshop staff saw the brother and sister looking to rent a place, they said, "The shops near the college are all busy. They're hard to find people selling them, and there are very few for rent. Those that are well-managed are good, and those that are doing decent business won't be rented out."

Xu Ruyi understood that if she rented the shop, she would not transfer it easily.

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "Please keep an eye out for any shops for rent or sale. As long as I'm satisfied, I'll definitely pay you for the errands."

Xu Ruyi took out two taels of silver and gave it to the broker, saying, "There will be a generous reward after the task is completed."

The man from the pawnshop took the silver and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I will definitely keep an eye on it for you."

Walking out of the dental clinic, Xu Ruyi sighed: It’s really not easy to rent a house, and it’s even harder to make money.

Xu Ruyi went to a porcelain shop and bought two ten-jin porcelain jars and two five-jin porcelain jars. She then bought a lot of ingredients and went back to prepare the chili oil.

Xu Ruyi boiled over 20 kilograms of chili oil and filled one jar of 10 kilograms and two jars of 5 kilograms.

Xu Qinghe asked, "Will this work?"

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "Let's give it a try. I'm free anyway."

The next day, Xu Ruyi went to the grocery store with chili oil. The shopkeeper, Zhao, looked confused and asked, "Little girl, what are you doing?"

Xu Ruyi put the jar down and smiled: "Boss, I want you to taste the chili oil?"

Shopkeeper Zhao had an impression of Xu Ruyi, who often visited the shop to buy various ingredients, so he had a guess in his mind: "Is it made from the chili powder I bought from you?"

Xu Ruyi smiled and nodded.

Shopkeeper Zhao was shocked, then he couldn't believe it and asked, "Did you make this?"

Xu Ruyi nodded and said, "I hope the shopkeeper can try it and see if you are satisfied." Then Xu Ruyi took out the meat buns he brought and handed them to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper took the bun, smeared it with chili oil, and tasted it. The chili oil on the meat bun had a unique and pungent flavor. Shopkeeper Zhao took a bite, and the aroma of the chili oil instantly filled the air, stimulating his taste buds. The bun's dough was soft and springy, and the tender meat filling contrasted with the spicy chili oil, earning him endless praise.

After eating one, Shopkeeper Zhao was still not satisfied, so he ate another one. After finishing it, he praised: "Not bad, this chili oil is very good."

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "Add a little chili oil to noodles and vegetables, and it will taste better. Some stir-fries are also delicious if you add some."

The shopkeeper agreed after hearing this and asked, "How much is this chili oil, young lady?"

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "I want to sell it to the shopkeeper, and he can sell it to customers himself." Xu Ruyi pointed to the jar and said, "Here are ten pounds of chili oil. I'll charge the shopkeeper fifteen cents a pound. How about selling it to the shopkeeper at twenty cents a pound? Of course, if I sell it retail myself, it will also be twenty cents a pound."

After listening to this, the shopkeeper thought for a moment and said, "Let me try it first. I'll buy this jar."

After the shopkeeper paid, Xu Ruyi left. Arriving at the stall, Xu Qinghe saw that she had nothing in her hands and asked, "Did you really sell it?"

Xu Ruyi nodded and said, "Fifteen cents a pound."

Xu Qinghe was a little excited after hearing this: "I didn't expect it to actually work."

Xu Ruyi was calm: "It's too early to be happy now. I don't know if the people in the county will accept it. Many people still can't eat spicy food."

Xu Qinghe: "I love spicy food now. If I don't eat spicy food, I always feel like something is missing!"

Xu Ruyi said, "I have a strong taste, and I've influenced you guys as well. I often add chili peppers when cooking, and now Ruyuan and Qingyan are not afraid of spicy food anymore."

Xu Ruyi's stall also had chili oil, in two 5-jin bottles. A note was taped to the cans, saying 20 wen per jin.

A customer came to buy an egg pancake, and then saw the chili oil and muttered: It's too spicy, my mouth is so spicy after eating it.

Some customers came and saw the chili oil, asked a lot of questions, but then didn't buy anything after asking for a long time.

Just when the stall was about to close, the uncle who was selling the secret recipe for zongzi came over. When he saw the chili oil, he bought both cans.

Xu Ruyi reminded him, "Uncle, you bought so much. This is very spicy. People who are not used to it may not dare to eat it."

The uncle said disapprovingly, "You're worrying too much, girl. My family has a strong palate. They'll come back to buy more next time after they finish eating."

Three days later, Shopkeeper Zhao found the stall and said with a smile, "Miss Xu, I want to order 1,000 kilograms of chili oil, all in 10-kilogram packages."

Xu Ruyi suppressed her excitement and joy and reminded him, "Shopkeeper, please be careful. Not everyone likes spicy food. Besides, if I sell chili oil, I won't accept returns."

After hearing Xu Ruyi's reminder, Shopkeeper Zhao liked this girl a little more: she was so young, but she was not very impatient about the money that was delivered to her door. Instead, she considered the risks of the buyers. She was a good girl.

Shopkeeper Zhao said firmly, "Don't worry, young lady. There are many shopkeepers who need it. I also have several shops. I can sell them out easily when the time comes."

Xu Ruyi heard this and said happily, "Then I will do it boldly, but since the order is so large, a deposit is required."

"Of course, I have brought all the silver." Shopkeeper Zhao took out five taels of silver and handed it to Xu Ruyi.

Xu Ruyi took the silver and said, "After closing the stall, I still have to go to the shopkeeper to buy chili powder. This silver still needs to be returned to the shopkeeper."

Shopkeeper Zhao burst into laughter after hearing this.

After Shopkeeper Zhao left, Xu Qinghe couldn't help but get excited: "This is really done."

Xu Ruyi said arrogantly: "That's right, don't you even look at who made the chili oil."

After closing the stall, the brother and sister went to buy ingredients and then went to Shopkeeper Zhao to buy chili powder. Xu Ruyi said to Shopkeeper Zhao, "I'll go back this afternoon to make it. It's a large quantity, so I'll try to finish it within three days. Can you send a truck to pick it up?"

Shopkeeper Zhao's eyes were all smiles: "Of course, young lady, don't worry."

After Xu Ruyi left the house, she remembered something and went back to tell Shopkeeper Zhao, "I was confused before. I don't sell chili oil in jars, so Shopkeeper Zhao may have to bear the cost of the jars."

Shopkeeper Zhao nodded and said, "Don't worry, young lady. I'll pay for it."

Xu Ruyi then left with peace of mind. She then went to the porcelain shop and bought a hundred ten-jin porcelain jars, and the shop gave her two extra ones.

Back home, Xu Ruyi washed a lot of onions, scallions, and ginger, then began to cook. Cutting onions stung her eyes, and the spiciness of the chili powder made her want to tear up. Luckily, she'd made a mask beforehand, otherwise her nose would have been too hot and she'd have been sneezing.

These days, Xu Qinghe runs the stall alone, while Xu Ruyi brews chili oil at home. Occasionally, neighbors pass by, shocked by the chili powder in the air, and they cover their noses and leave. Even Old Li, who passes by, can't help but mutter, "Why is it so spicy? It's killing me!"

Some people who weren't afraid of spicy food passed by and saw the many jars in Xu Ruyi's yard. They thought to themselves: What is that girl fiddling with? Is she stir-frying chili peppers? Can stir-frying chili peppers alone be eaten as a dish? She's not going to can them and sell them. This is crazy, really crazy. Then they shook their heads and left.

Only Uncle Zhang from next door came over and asked, "What is Xu girl busy with? The smell is so strong and choking?"

Xu Ruyi did not hide it: "I make chili oil, which is a very spicy chili sauce. Add a little when eating noodles or vegetables, it goes very well with rice."

"Really? This is the first time I've heard of it. Is that the one in this basin?"

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "Uncle Zhang, take a bowl back, get a piece of tofu, dip it in the chili sauce and eat it, and you'll understand."

Uncle Zhang was skeptical and took a bowl back. When he returned the bowl, there was a large piece of tofu in it.

At lunch, Uncle Zhang dipped tofu in chili sauce and ate it with great satisfaction: "Not bad, it's really delicious."