in2ebook Chapter 108 Red-faced Boy
Chapter 108 Red-faced Boy
Including the past few days, Xie Ci'an dug nearly 60 kilograms of bamboo shoots.
When it was getting dark and no one could be seen, he left some bamboo shoots behind, packed the remaining bamboo shoots into a sack and carried it back to the Lin family.
Lin Jingzhe weighed the sack and said, "Hey, boy, it weighs 58 kilograms."
There won’t be any stones mixed in the sack, right?
The look of doubt and disbelief in his eyes was so obvious that Xie Ci'an's already paper-thin face turned redder and redder.
Li Taohua slapped her son on the shoulder, "What are you doing, little brat!"
Lin Jingzhe wailed.
He stared at the scale and said with a pout, "Fifty-eight kilograms."
Li Taohua counted the copper coins. There were fifty-eight copper coins, not one less. "You count."
Li Taohua counted the coins twice, and Xie Ci'an had already counted them twice in his heart.
"Thank you." Xie Ci'an said goodbye with a red face and walked very quickly, as if there was a tiger chasing him from behind.
This made Lin Jingzhe burst into laughter.
Lin Xiaoman just watched, and when Lin Jingzhe finished laughing, he smiled at him sinisterly: "Brother, starting from tomorrow, you have to go to the Xie family every day at 3 p.m. to learn how to read. You won't forget this, right?"
Lin Jingzhe frowned, "Can I not go?"
"Of course you can. Then tell your parents to send you to a private school."
"Hmph, a real man should be able to bend and stretch. Let's go." Lin Jingzhe touched his nose, feeling a chill on his back.
Would Xie Ci'an take revenge on his personal grudges?
Before he could think any further, he heard his uncle's voice calling from outside the door.
Lin Jingzhe rushed out and opened the door, "Uncle!"
The door opened, and Li Shan and Li Qiao were each carrying a large sack, followed by Li Zian and Li Zimao.
Both of them also have it on their shoulders.
Four sacks, a total of three hundred kilograms!
Lin Xiaoman was stunned. This... this fighting power is simply amazing.
I wonder if the hilltop of Shadi Village has been torn apart by the four uncles and several brothers?
Li Shan's forehead was covered with sweat in the middle of winter. Li Taohua handed him a piece of cloth and said, "Brother, wipe it quickly."
Li Qiao took a breath and said with a smile: "Taohua, you said you wanted winter bamboo shoots, let's go up the mountain to dig them before dark. The boys at home are very active and will be very enthusiastic in digging bamboo shoots."
"Big brother, second brother, don't work so hard, don't you care about your health? You catch fish and dig bamboo shoots, and you still have to go to town to sell mountain products. Even a strong body can't stand it."
Li Shan returned the cloth to Li Taohua with a smile in his eyes.
"Not tired, not tired." An honest person will not say words of thanks, he will just rub his hands and smile.
As she spoke, she took out a bag from her bosom and gave it to Li Taohua. "This is the dried chicken mushroom that mom sun-dried. She dug it up near where Xiaoman found the chicken mushroom last time. She saw that Xiaoman was interested in dried goods, so she asked me to bring them all here."
Li Taohua heard from Xiaoman that chicken mushrooms can nourish the body, so she refused to take them. "Brother, take them back and ask parents to keep them for soup. They are very delicious."
My parents are really something. They take all the good things from me. What if my sister-in-law has objections later?
Li Shan insisted that Li Taohua accept it. Seeing that she refused, he turned around and gave it to Lin Dajiang, smiling innocently, "Mom said that if you don't accept it, we don't have to go back."
Lin Dajiang knew his mother-in-law's temper, so he harvested the mushrooms and carried the bamboo shoots into the main room with his two brothers-in-law.
Li Taohua counted out three hundred copper coins and gave them to Li Shan.
Li Shan carefully took out the cloth bag from his arms and carefully put the copper coins into it.
After putting it away, he smoothed it over and felt something was wrong, so he took it out again and put half of the copper coins to his second brother Li Qiao.
After finishing, he said, "Taohua, there are so many bamboo shoots to peel. I guess you and Dajiang won't have enough time. My second brother and I are free now, so we will stay and peel them."
Li Qiao was curious, "Little sister, what are you going to do with all these winter bamboo shoots?"
At this point, Li Taohua remembered that she had not yet let her brothers taste the braised bamboo shoots she made.
I hurried to the kitchen and filled a bowl.
"Brother, try the braised bamboo shoots made by Xiaoman."
Li Shan and Li Qiao both said it was delicious.
Under the dim oil lamp, Li Shan saw that the bamboo shoots in the bowl were still covered with oil. He stopped holding the bamboo shoots in the bowl, not knowing whether to extend them or withdraw them. He said, "Little sister, why are they so delicious? How much oil did you put in?"
After listening to his elder brother's words, Li Qiao took a closer look and his heart skipped a beat.
"Taohua, this, this much oil, won't we lose money?"
"The boss and Xiaoman have calculated it twice and they think there will be no loss." Li Taohua's initial reaction was the same as his eldest brother's. He also felt that there would be a loss.
But if Xiaoman takes into account the cost of oil, sauces and firewood, he can make a lot of money.
The main thing is that the bamboo shoots are dug by ourselves.
If you buy bamboo shoots with money now, you will make less money.
But Xiaoman had already calculated the expenses clearly.
Li Shan finally breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, that's good."
Li Zian took Lin Jingzhe to the backyard in the dark to look at the rabbits.
The two of them were chattering away without being noticed.
The remaining four adults, along with Li Zimao and Lin Xiaoman, gathered in the main room to peel winter bamboo shoots.
Li Taohua and Lin Dajiang are responsible for cleaning the peeled winter bamboo shoots, and then cutting them into small pieces.
After cutting two sacks of bamboo shoots, Li Taohua called a halt.
"Brother, it's almost time. Dad, Mom and my sisters-in-law are still waiting at home!"
There are two large iron pots in the kitchen. One pot can cook more than 40 kilograms of braised bamboo shoots, and two pots can cook 80 to 90 kilograms.
It takes three to four hours to prepare braised bamboo shoots. Tonight, Li Taohua and Lin Dajiang plan to take turns watching over the kitchen.
Li Taohua and her eldest and second brothers agreed that the Li family would send four people to sell braised bamboo shoots every day.
There were four brothers, two of them per day. The one whose turn it was would bring his wife and go to several villages near Dayi Town to sell bamboo shoots.
The Lin family has occupied the rabbit nest of Li Erli's family next door for so long, Lin Dajiang is grateful and will invite Li Erli to sell bamboo shoots tomorrow.
As for my second brother, we will see the situation in the surrounding villages tomorrow. If the sales are good, they can make more braised bamboo shoots.
They seize the opportunity and make more money before their competitors start doing it.
Lin Dajiang thought of money and chuckled twice.
It took him a cup of tea to react, and he immediately put his hands behind his back and pretended to be mature and serious.
-
Li Shan and Li Qiao went home and told their parents what happened.
Zhang Qiaoniang's eyes turned red, "Taohua is thinking about you brothers, you must remember her kindness."
Li Shi's wife smiled and said, "Don't worry, mother. We all remember how good Taohua was to us."
Li Qiao's wife was shy, and even she couldn't help but agree: "Mom, we all remember it."
Li Shan's wife nodded. She was the one who should thank her sister the most among the sisters-in-law.
The fact that Li Zi'an had not yet found a wife had become a source of worry for her.
Thanks to Peach Blossom.
We picked a lot of black ears last year and now they are used as food.
In the past, we were always hungry and hungry.
There is still food stored at home.
In summer, we sell frozen foods, and in winter, we sell grass carp.
With these, the family saved seven or eight taels of silver.
Now I am taking them to sell bamboo shoots, so I can make at least some money.
When spring comes, they will take care of the crops in the fields and sell them for some money.
When the time comes, I’ll ask Zi’an what kind of girl he likes. Maybe next year I’ll be able to let my mother have a great-grandson!
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The next morning, Li Shi, Li Zhu and their wives set out before dawn.
When we arrived at the Lin family shop in Ruyi Tower, there were already many diners gathered there buying breakfast.
"Third brother, little brother, you are here. Have you eaten breakfast?"
While Li Taohua greeted them warmly, she put more than ten fried dumplings in oil paper for them.
Li Zhu refused and said, "Sister, we ate before we set out, and mother also asked us to bring dry biscuits with us, so you can keep these dumplings to sell."
Li Shitou nodded, "Little sister, where are the braised bamboo shoots? It takes 25 minutes to walk to the nearby village. Let's go quickly. After we finish selling them, I can go to your house and peel the bamboo shoots for you."
Neither her third sister-in-law nor her younger sister-in-law wanted it, so Li Taohua had no choice but to give up.
He gave two buckets of braised bamboo shoots to Li Shi and Li Zhu, and told them what to pay attention to.
"Girl, didn't you say that the guy next door to your house would also come? Why can't I see him?" Li Shi asked while carrying the bucket.
Li Taohua smiled and said, "You're talking about Erli. This kid is diligent. He came with us and has already left with his load. By the way, he went to Huaishu Village in the south. You guys better not get too heavy."
Li Shi and Li Zhu nodded, and after leaving the town, one went east and the other went north, and set out with their respective wives to sell braised bamboo shoots.
The braised bamboo shoots were still selling well the next day.
Diners who come to drink Eight Treasure Ruyi Congee always order the braised bamboo shoots for two copper coins. The fragrance of the braised bamboo shoots wrapped in the soft white rice grains creates a different spark in the mouth.
When I leave, I will take one or two kilograms with me. I will eat the two meals at noon and dinner with white flour porridge, and I will feel that my stomach is full of oil and water.
By noon, all the food in the Lin family shop was sold out.
Li Taohua began to worry about her third brother and younger brother.
Also worried about Li Erli.
I don’t know how the sales were, as they never came back.
"Taohua, stop walking around. My eyes are numb from all that walking." Lin Dajiang was also worried. He became even more worried when he was infected by Li Taohua's anxious mood.
Just when they were extremely anxious and didn't know what to do, Li Erli came back.
Li Erli held the shoulder pole in one hand and the bucket in the other.
Lin Xiaoman also breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the bucket was empty.
As long as they can be sold, at least I won’t have to worry about the bamboo shoots that haven’t been cooked yet at home.
"Uncle, aunt." Li Erli approached, lowering his voice but still couldn't hide the excitement in his words, "All sold out today, and I also ordered 10 kilograms. Tomorrow Huaishu Village will make 10 more kilograms of braised bamboo shoots."
Wow, Fuyu Village is really rich.
It is incomparable to Shanglin Village.
If the braised bamboo shoots were taken to Shanglin Village to sell, one kilogram would probably be the maximum they could sell.
"Brother Erli, you are really awesome!" Lin Jingzhe patted Li Erli on the shoulder, "I have nothing to do this afternoon, come and help me peel the bamboo shoots. The bamboo shoots at home are almost full."
Li Erli thought that he could make a lot of money selling bamboo shoots, so he nodded happily, "Let's ask my mother to come along. She does needlework all day long, and her eyesight is almost gone."
Li Taohua thought of the blind grandmother in the village and said with lingering fear: "Erli, you have to talk to your mother. You can do needlework during the day, but you can't do it in the dark at night. It's not worth it if you become blind in the future."
"Aunt, I understand."
A quarter of an hour later, Li Shi and Li Zhu also came back.
Li Shi still had two or three pounds left to sell, and Li Zhu's bucket was empty.
The few of them had no time to communicate and split into two groups. Li Taohua took Lin Jingzhe and the two children, as well as Li Shi and Li Zhu, back to Shanglin Village first.
Lin Dajiang, Li Erli and Lin Xiaoman went to buy materials for tomorrow.
The family split into two groups, trying to save time to peel more bamboo shoots and make more braised bamboo shoots.
For lunch, Li Taohua made scallion oil pancakes. Everyone ate a pancake and then started to work.
Li Shi and Li Zhu worked the hardest.
They knew that their two brothers would bring them two to three hundred kilograms of bamboo shoots in the evening.
There were too many bamboo shoots and the Lin family’s two pots couldn’t hold them all.
Li Erli then contributed the two pots at home.
Four pots were just enough to cook all the leftover bamboo shoots from yesterday.
Lin Xiaoman is in charge of the recipe and has to take care of both pots.
Fortunately, the two restaurants are right next door to each other. Except for the sauce and oil, which require time control, the braised bamboo shoots are cooked over high heat for the rest of the time.
After peeling the bamboo shoots, the two brothers of the Li family left with their wives, as there was still a lot of work waiting for them to do at home.
Although they were very busy, the four of them returned briskly and steadily.
My parents said yesterday that from now on the money they use to help Taohua sell things will be saved by themselves.
Only when you have money and food in your hands can you have hope for the future!
The two brothers returned home and told their parents and two older brothers about the situation.
When they heard that so many braised bamboo shoots had been sold, they couldn't contain their joy.
Li Zhong packed the bamboo shoots silently, a gratified smile on his dark face.
It would be good for Taohua to have some brothers. Yesterday he was worried that the braised bamboo shoots made by Taohua could not be sold. What should he do if all the bamboo shoots he bought were broken?
Now that I heard from my son that the braised bamboo shoots are selling well, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"We dug more than 200 kilograms today. You two will deliver them later and don't come back. Help Dajiang and Taohua make the braised bamboo shoots. Your two wives will go directly to Dayi Town to meet you tomorrow morning."
Li Zhong felt sorry for his daughter and son-in-law, and was afraid that they would ruin their health in order to make money, so he specifically told them: "You two are strong, so do more, and don't let your sister and Dajiang do the work."
Li Shan and Li Qiao nodded hurriedly.
The two were eager to try, and tomorrow they would be the ones selling bamboo shoots.
I don’t know if it will be sold out?
As it was getting dark, the two brothers left the village through a small path, carrying two sacks of bamboo shoots.
It was completely dark when we arrived at Li Taohua's house.
Lin Jingzhe and Lin Dajiang weighed themselves, and Li Taohua immediately gave the copper coins to her two brothers.
Li Shan put the money away carefully. This money was to be handed over to his parents and must not be lost.
After receiving the money, the two brothers started peeling bamboo shoots without stopping, which made Li Taohua laugh and cry.
Li Taohua wanted to prepare bamboo shoots for them to eat. "I just made it this afternoon. Brother, please help me taste it."
Li Shan and Li Qiao shook their heads.
If they came to help the girl every day, she would waste a lot of food, so both of them brought dry noodles from home to eat when they were hungry at night.
Li Shan took out a pancake and said, "Sister, we brought food, so don't bother."
Lin Dajiang saw what his two brothers-in-law were thinking and said with a smile, "Big brother, second brother, what bread did you bring with you? Taohua and I will go to Shadi Village later. Do you plan to let us bring our own food?"
Li Qiao frowned and said, "That won't do! What dry food did you bring?"
After saying that, he felt something was wrong. He frowned and thought about it again and again, always feeling that his words were contradictory.
"Knock knock knock." There is a knock on the door.
Lin Xiaoman opened the door and it was Xie Ci'an.
My brother learned to read from him. According to the people here, Xie Ci'an can be considered Lin Jingzhe's teacher.
In this ancient time where teachers are respected, as expected, Lin Dajiang came forward and said, "Thank you, Master. From now on, you can just ask Jingzhe to move in for you."
As he said this, he was about to go forward to help.
Xie Ci'an dodged to the side, nimbly avoiding Lin Dajiang's help, and entered the yard carrying a sack of bamboo shoots on his back.