My humble days in ancient times

A few days later, Shopkeeper Zhao, with a brisk pace and a look of joy on his face, slowly approached the familiar stall. He shouted from a distance, "You two are so busy! I've come here today to bring you great news!"

Xu Ruyi, who was concentrating on making food, looked up after hearing the voice and responded with a smile, "Oh, Shopkeeper Zhao, you're here! This is great news, so please tell us more about it later. Oh, by the way, Shopkeeper Zhao, would you like to try one of those delicious egg pancakes first? They're fresh out of the pan, so they're still hot!"

Shopkeeper Zhao smiled and waved his hand, politely declining, "Haha, thank you for your kindness, Miss Xu. I've already had my breakfast." After that, he watched with interest as Xu Ruyi skillfully made one delicious rice ball after another and handed them to the customers who had been waiting early.

After Xu Ruyi saw off the last guest, she wiped her hands with her apron, then quickly walked over to Shopkeeper Zhao and asked expectantly, "Shopkeeper Zhao, now you can tell us what kind of good news it is!"

Shopkeeper Zhao came over and said, "I want to order another thousand kilograms of chili oil. Is this a good thing?"

"That's good news. Thank you, Shopkeeper Zhao, for selling it well."

Shopkeeper Zhao said modestly: "No, no, it's Miss Xu's chili oil that's good. Well, I won't disturb you anymore, I'm leaving first." After saying that, he left in a hurry.

"Sure. It seems that the demand for chili oil will gradually increase in the future." Xu Qinghe said, looking at the back of Shopkeeper Zhao.

Xu Ruyi said with a smile, "This is a blessing in disguise. It shows that everyone still likes chili oil. Now I feel relieved."

Xu Qinghe said, "I heard that people in the south like sweet food, and people in the north like spicy food."

"What about us here?" Xu Ruyi asked.

"Some of us like spicy food, and some don't." Xu Qinghe said as he greeted the guests.

The guest took the omelet, looked at the clay pot on the table and muttered, "Five pounds of chili oil is too much for a jar. It would be better if it were one pound." Then he left.

Xu Ruyi heard this and said to Xu Qinghe, "How about we switch to a one-jin package?"

"After closing the stall, go to the porcelain jar shop. Anything one or two kilograms is fine."

After closing their stall, the brother and sister went to buy chili powder, a porcelain pot, and other ingredients. They also went to the butcher's stall and bought two pounds of meat.

As soon as I got off the donkey cart after arriving home, I heard my grandfather's voice: "Oh, did you just come back from outside? Fortunately, you didn't come so early in the morning, otherwise no one would be home."

Xu Ruyi lifted the curtain on the carport and saw that her grandfather and uncle had arrived. She called out, "Grandpa, uncle."

Xu Qinghe: "Grandpa and uncle are here."

My uncle put down the backpack and came over to look at the donkey cart.

Grandpa He Tiezhu asked, "Whose donkey cart is this?"

Xu Qinghe smiled and said, "My sister and I bought it."

He Tiezhu and He Changsheng were shocked.

He Tiezhu was incredulous: "Do you have any money? You can't spend money lavishly. We still have a long way to go."

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa. My brother and I need a donkey cart now. We just came back from closing our stall."

"I just closed my stall. What stall did I close?" He Tiezhu was still skeptical.

Xu Ruyi didn't keep the secret and said directly: "My brother and I are selling egg pancakes and rice balls now!"

He Tiezhu was still surprised: "What is that? I've never heard of it."

He Changsheng listened to their conversation while petting the donkey. He was confused when he heard about egg pancakes and rice balls. So he asked Xu Qinghe: "What are these? Is it edible?"

Xu Qinghe nodded. He took the wooden barrel off the cart and opened it, saying, "Grandpa, uncle, look, this is the rice used to make rice balls."

He Tiezhu laughed: "Really, the color of this rice is so weird!"

Xu Ruyi and Xu Qinghe understood what he meant: It seems that this is what everyone would say when seeing the color of rice for the first time!

Xu Ruyi explained, "Grandpa, black rice or purple rice doesn't turn out white when cooked. Rice balls are made by cooking several kinds of rice together."

He Tiezhu and He Changsheng nodded.

He Changsheng asked, "How did you come up with such a bizarre food?"

Xu Qinghe shook his head: "I don't have such ability, it's all Ruyi's idea."

He Changsheng praised, "Ruyi is really amazing." Then he gave a thumbs up.

He Tiezhu also nodded and said, "Ruyi is really good. Qinghe is great too." After saying that, his eyes became moist: I hope my daughter is alive and well. It must be gratifying to see that my child is so capable.

They helped unload the items from the car. He Changsheng saw the onions, ginger, and chili powder and asked, "Why are you buying so much of this?"

Xu Qinghe explained, "It's for making chili oil. Shopkeeper Zhao from the grocery store wants a thousand kilograms."

He Tiezhu and He Changsheng gasped. He Tiezhu asked worriedly, "That's too much. What if..."

Xu Qinghe smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa. Shopkeeper Zhao paid the deposit and he already bought a thousand kilograms last time."

He Tiezhu and He Changsheng felt relieved after hearing this.

Several people helped put things into the kitchen.

He Changsheng took out the vegetables and meat he brought with him. Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "If I had known that my uncle brought meat, I wouldn't have bought it."

He Changsheng also joked, "If I had known you were going to buy meat, I wouldn't have bought any today."

Several people laughed.

At noon, Xu Ruyi had steamed egg custard, braised pork, stir-fried vegetables, cold shepherd's purse, and scrambled eggs with leeks.

Xu Qingyan likes braised pork and egg custard, and He Tiezhu and He Changsheng also praise the braised pork after eating it.

He Tiezhu praised: "Ruyi not only cooks delicious dishes, but also comes up with ideas to make money like egg pancakes and rice balls. I feel relieved to see that you four brothers and sisters are doing well." He Tiezhu looked at the clothes of the four children, which were much better than those of the villagers.

He Changsheng couldn't help but praise: "This braised pork is so tender and tasty, I'm afraid it's even better than the ones in restaurants!"

Xu Qingyan said with food in his mouth: "Big sister knows a lot, she can even tell stories!"

Xu Ruyuan added: "Eldest sister can sing and dance. I saw her once."

He Tiezhu patted Xu Qingyan on the back and said, "Be careful, finish eating before you talk, don't choke."

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "I'll feel embarrassed if you praise me again."

Everyone laughed, and He Tiezhu asked, "Ruyi, do you make money from this business? If you do, can you teach your uncle something? I want to save some money so that your uncle can get married in the next two years."

Xu Ruyi nodded: "Uncle, if you want to learn, then stay and learn. As long as you can get up early and go to bed late, it will be much better than doing odd jobs."

He Changsheng was overjoyed when he heard this: "Ruyi, I will give you the silver."

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "Uncle, we are a family, don't be too particular."

After dinner, He Tiezhu wanted to go see his daughter, so he took He Changsheng and Xu Qinghe with him.

Xu Qinghe and He Changsheng came back early, but He Tiezhu hadn't come back yet. He must have a lot to say to his daughter. When He Tiezhu came back, his eyes were red.

He Tiezhu was going back first, while He Changsheng wanted to stay and learn how to make egg pancakes and rice balls.

Xu Ruyi took out ten taels of silver and gave it to He Tiezhu. He Tiezhu refused to accept it: "This is what you have worked hard to earn. Grandpa can't take it."

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "Grandpa, you'd better accept it. This is a little gift from us. Buy yourself some clothes and eat something delicious." Xu Ruyi stuffed the silver into He Tiezhu's hand.

He Tiezhu nodded continuously and said, "Good boy, really a good boy."

He Tiezhu hugged Xu Qingyan, touched Xu Ruyuan's head, and talked to Xu Qinghe for a few words before leaving.

Xu Ruyi asked, "Brother, what did grandpa say to you?"

Xu Qinghe said, "It's still the same as before. Let me take good care of you. If you have any problems, go find him."

After listening to this, Xu Ruyi was deeply moved.

At this time, the clerk from the porcelain shop brought in porcelain jars, and soon a pile of them were placed in the yard, making the yard suddenly smaller.

Xu Ruyi was busy making chili oil.

Xu Ruyi started chopping onions, He Changsheng helped wash ginger and green onions, and Xu Qinghe helped light the fire.

Xu Ruyi simply used two pots to boil oil together.

He Changsheng did not stay in the kitchen, but went out to help wash the porcelain jars.