Chapter 106
106 Tempted
The entire village was waiting to see Fatty Su make a fool of herself.
However, after a day, the little horse did not die.
Two days pa.s.sed, but the little horse was not dead.
Three days later, the little horse stood up!
The news came from Niudan. As a frenemy of the three little ones, Niudan obtained a chance to feed the foal after being bullied to tears again.
“It stood up as it ate!”
Some villagers did not believe him and personally went to the Su family to take a look.
In the end, they realized that the little horse could not only stand, but also walk around!
Although it was walking shakily, it looked much more energetic than it did a few days ago!
At least it was no longer half-dead!
The village head exclaimed, “Daya really... reared it to life.”
Fatty Su used her capability to slap some villagers’ faces again. Madam Zhou, who was gloating and gossiping everywhere, did not dare to say anything.
In the blink of an eye, it was the 15th day of the first lunar month. Su Xiaoxiao’s business would officially open tomorrow.
However, because she had spent all her savings on buying a horse and a donkey, Su Xiaoxiao was so poor that she could not even afford the ingredients.
The ingredients for making pancakes at home could only last for another two days...
Su Xiaoxiao scratched her head angrily!
Sigh, why did she buy a horse?
“Daya, are you there?”
Father Su’s voice came from outside the door.
Su Xiaoxiao closed the account book and regained her composure. “Yes, Dad. Come in.”
Old Master Su entered the room and gave her a brand-new money bag.
“Dad, what are you doing?” Su Xiaoxiao asked.
“I don’t have anywhere to spend it. Take it,” Father Su said.
There was a total of 5 taels of silver inside. Su Xiaoxiao had given it to Father Su.
Old Master Su was very stingy and did not spend a single cent.
No, he spent 10 copper coins to buy a stick of candied hawthorn for the three little ones.
Su Xiaoxiao held the money bag in her hand and felt a warmth reach her heart, making her nose sting. “Dad...”
Father Su waved his hand. “Alright, I’m going to sleep. You should sleep early too.”
Su Xiaoxiao looked at Father Su’s back and said seriously, “Dad, I’ll earn a lot of money! I’ll turn your 5 taels into 500 taels! 5,000 taels!”
Father Su was amused.
5,000 taels? It was already not bad for her to not lose money.
However, this was his biological daughter. She had to be pampered even if she was a prodigal!
At night, Su Yuniang’s little brother came again.
He secretly handed Su Xiaoxiao a pouch and looked around. He said in a low voice, “My sister said that this is not a consultation fee. It’s a loan to you. You have to return it!”
Su Xiaoxiao opened the pouch and saw two ingots worth 5 taels of silver.
Su Yuniang was really a rich woman!
....
The next day, Su Xiaoxiao woke up early. Madam Wu and Liu Ping came over before dawn.
Today, Madam Wu was mainly responsible for separating the yolk and white of the salted duck eggs.
The salted egg white that had been marinated was still flowing in a liquid state, while the egg yolk had solidified, so it was not difficult to separate.
She only needed to knock a small hole in the eggsh.e.l.l and pour out the egg white.
In order to increase efficiency, Su Xiaoxiao made a simple shelf and evenly lined it up. Every time, she only needed to knock a small hole in the eggsh.e.l.l and place it upside down on each compartment to let the egg white flow down smoothly and drip into the jar below.
The filtered salted egg white naturally could not be wasted. It could be used to marinate meat, stir-fry vegetables, cook porridge, and so on.
Jin Ji wanted salted egg yolk, which saved Su Xiaoxiao a process.
Su Xiaoxiao also made a compartment to store the salted egg yolk and spread bamboo leaves at the bottom.
These squares were designed by Su Xiaoxiao and made by Liu Ping. They were just right.
It had to be said that Liu Ping’s skills were really good.
“Sister, aren’t you going to do the snack business today?” Su Ergou asked as he sorted the egg yolk with a spoon.
Su Xiaoxiao said, “Not today.”
“Oh.” Su Ergou smacked his lips and was a little disappointed.
Su Xiaoxiao smiled. “I’m kidding. I’m not doing the braised meat business today. The snack business will open. Hurry up and bring the chestnuts over!”
Su Ergou’s eyes lit up. “Alright!”
It was quite busy early in the morning.
Su Xiaoxiao stirred the mung bean sand and said, “Ergou, there’s no sugar left. Go scoop some for me.”
A slender jade-like hand picked up the empty sugar bowl on the stove, opened the sugar jar beside the cabinet, scooped up a large bowl of sugar, and placed it back on the stove.
Su Xiaoxiao was too busy to look up. “I need water. Add a ladle and a half to the pot.”
That exquisite jade-like hand scooped up the water ladle again and gently added it to the big iron pot twice.
“I need...”
Before she could finish her third order, the hand opened the cupboard again and took out the waking dough.
Su Xiaoxiao realized that something was wrong.
Su Ergou was not so calm when he worked. It was not that he was careless, but he did rush through everything!
Su Xiaoxiao blinked and slowed down. She coughed lightly and said, “I want to drink water. I’m thirsty.”
The hand paused and poured her a bowl of warm water.
Su Xiaoxiao said without changing her expression, “My hands are not free.”
That hand paused twice or three times before finally feeding Su Xiaoxiao.
Su Xiaoxiao pursed her lips and smiled. She lowered her head and took a small sip. “How sweet!”
She still wanted to drink!
“Brother-in-law, you’re here! Eh? You’re feeding my sister water!”
A certain someone’s hand trembled and gave Su Xiaoxiao a big gulp!
Not only did Su Xiaoxiao choke, but the water was also splashed all over her face.
She bristled.
“Su, Er, Gou!”
....
Su Xiaoxiao went to change her clothes with a dark expression.
Su Ergou said to Wei Ting, “Why should my sister be angry? You didn’t splash it on her, right?”
Then, Wei Ting glanced at him and left without saying a word.
....
When it was almost dawn, the snacks and salted egg yolk were all loaded onto the donkey cart.
The donkey was bought five days ago. The small cart that was loaded at the back was made by Liu Ping. Su Ergou also contributed a lot.
Before leaving, Su Xiaoxiao told Liu Ping and Madam Wu about their salary.
Initially, she had given Madam Wu 20 copper coins a day. Now that the workload had increased and the working hours had lengthened, Su Xiaoxiao mentioned 2,000 copper coins a month, which was two taels of silver.
Liu Ping’s monthly allowance was also two taels.
Initially, Madam Wu felt that 20 copper coins were too much. Now, it had actually increased to 20 taels!
Liu Ping was also stunned.
His wife had told him that Daya would not treat them badly, but he had never thought that he would be able to take so much!
When he worked hard in town and ate rice and steamed buns, he only brought back one tael a month at most.
Although he had a lot of work to do with Daya, he had water to drink when he was thirsty, food to eat when he was hungry, and rest when he was tired. Not only would Daya not scold him, but she would also not deduct his salary.
He said seriously, “Daya, half a tael is enough! I feel bad if you give me too much! You’ve helped our family so much. I can’t ask for so much!”
Su Xiaoxiao smiled. “Brother Liu, you don’t have to feel bad.”
Hiring Liu Ping was equivalent to hiring a delivery man and a carpenter. The salary of two taels of silver was not high.
She had yet to mention the reward.
She smiled and said, “Brother Liu, work hard with Sister Xiao Wu. I won’t treat you badly.”
Liu Ping naturally believed it!
After interacting with her for a while, he could tell that although Daya was a woman, her ability and breadth of mind were way ahead of many men!
Su Xiaoxiao said, “Let’s go to the market first.”
On the first day, Su Xiaoxiao wanted to show Liu Ping the way and meet Luo Dazhuang and Shen Chuan. In the future, she would leave the market and the academy to Liu Ping. She and Su Ergou would focus on setting up a stall at the entrance of Jin Ji.
—
After Su Xiaoxiao and the other two set off, Wei Ting also walked out with his walking stick.
It was early and there were not many people in the village. No one noticed him.
He tried to walk as quietly as possible as he walked towards the official road.
....
Luo Dazhuang had been waiting at the market for a long time.
His parents hoped that he would rest at home for a few more days and come out to set up the stall when there were more people.
But who asked him to agree to that little village girl?
During the new year, the matchmaker came to tell him about a few girls. He was not very satisfied and the face of the little village girl kept flashing across his mind.
He had been here for two hours, but there was no sign of the little village girl.
The village girl had probably forgotten her agreement with him today. To think that he had left her high-grade plum blossom meat.
“Dazhuang!”
Su Xiaoxiao came to the stall and waved her hand in front of his eyes. She asked, “Why are you in a daze? A customer is looking for you to buy meat!”
Luo Dazhuang came back to his senses and glanced at Su Xiaoxiao and the aunt who had been waiting for a long time. “You want two pounds of pork ribs? I’ll... Aiya! Who are you!”
He suddenly realized that something was wrong with the little girl he had just glanced at. She was different from before!
He looked at Su Xiaoxiao again!
Su Xiaoxiao smiled. “Dazhuang?”
Luo Dazhuang felt like he had seen a fairy.
After not seeing her for a month, Su Xiaoxiao changed a lot. Although she had not lost much weight, the lines of her face appeared, making her facial features look defined and three-dimensional.
Her skin went from rough yellow skin to a smooth girlish complexion. This was a visible whitening and beauty.
Luo Dazhuang covered his chest. Phew, his heart was beating so fast!
“Are you selling meat? If not, I’m leaving!” The auntie was getting impatient.
“Sell, sell, two catties, right?” Su Xiaoxiao picked up the bone knife on the chopping board and chopped two catties of pork ribs. She used a string of dumpling leaves to hand the pork to the auntie.
“I’ll charge you 30 copper coins for the business!”
The aunt paid in satisfaction and left with the ribs.
Luo Dazhuang’s heart was pounding!
The way she chopped her ribs just now was filled with the aura of a butcher!
Su Ergou said, “Sister, I want to eat pork ribs tonight!”
“Alright, five catties.” Su Xiaoxiao lowered her head and took out her wallet.
“No charge. It’s for you!” Luo Dazhuang said arrogantly and began to chop ribs.
Su Ergou added, “Brother-in-law likes to eat it too!”
Luo Dazhuang: “A hundred copper coins!”