“How could there be so many things on the ox cart?”

Lu Xiaoli was the first to speak, “Mom, what’s going on with all these things on the ox cart?”

Shen Xuezhú smiled gently, “I bought them.”

“Mom, how… how could you afford so many things?” Lu Xiaoli was almost in disbelief.

“I came up with a few recipes and sold them to the town’s restaurant.”

“Recipes? And you made money from selling them…?”

Shen Xuezhú interrupted Lu Xiaoyue’s questioning. It wasn’t the right time to explain everything. “I’ll tell you the details when we get home. For now, please help carry the lighter items inside.”

Since Shen Xuezhú had said that, Lu Xiaoyue and Lu Xiaoli set aside their curiosity and began moving the things.

Zhao Lao Er, seeing that they were all from the same village, thought he couldn’t just stand there and watch the three women struggle to carry the things. He decided to lend a hand.

With Zhao Lao Er’s help, the items were quickly unloaded from the cart.

Shen Xuezhú thanked him and then asked how much she owed him for the cart fare.

Zhao Lao Er, considering that they were fellow villagers and that Shen Xuezhú had two children with her, replied, “It’s six wen per person for a trip to town.”

“Since you’re returning and the cart is already full, I can’t take passengers anymore. Since we’re from the same village, just give me twenty wen. Altogether, it’s twenty-six wen.”

Shen Xuezhú thanked him again and handed over the money.

…

“Mom, why didn’t you think of selling recipes to the restaurant before?” Lu Xiaoli asked while eating a meat pie.

Shen Xuezhú wasn’t sure how to answer; it was a difficult topic to explain.

She came up with a vague excuse, “I just thought of it suddenly. I never thought of it before.”

“Oh, so will you be able to think of more in the future? I want to have meat pies every day. I also want to eat white rice, stir-fried spicy pork, and meat buns.”

“That’s hard to say, but I won’t let you go hungry again.”

The meat pie in Lu Xiaoyue’s hands was like a delicacy. After taking two bites, she couldn’t bring herself to finish it.

Although Shen Xuezhú had told them they wouldn’t go hungry again, the truth was, she couldn’t think of any other recipes right now.

Once the money from selling the recipes ran out, they might have to endure hunger again.

Seeing Lu Xiaoli holding the meat pie without eating it, Shen Xuezhú asked, “Is the meat pie not good? Xiaoli, why aren’t you eating?”

Lu Xiaoli blinked her big eyes and looked at Shen Xuezhú. “Mom, the meat pie is delicious. It’s the best thing I’ve eaten recently.”

“I don’t know how long it will be before I get to eat another one, so I don’t want to finish it too quickly.”

“Also, Mom, you bought so many things today. The money from selling the recipes should be almost spent, right? Do we still have money for you to buy more meat pies for us?”

Shen Xuezhú took out her money pouch and opened it to show her. “Xiaoli, come here and take a look. See, I still have this much money left.”

Lu Xiaoli had never seen so much money before, and there was so much she couldn’t count it all.

“Mom, so selling recipes can earn this much money? You’re really amazing!”

At that moment, Lu Xiaoyue returned after delivering the meat pies to Aunt Yao’s family.

“What are you looking at?”

Lu Xiaoli shushed her, “Sister, speak quietly, look at this pouch.”

Lu Xiaoyue glanced at the money pouch. “This… this is way too much money! Did all of this come from selling the recipes?”

Shocked by how much money there was, Lu Xiaoyue’s voice became louder, causing Lu Xiaoli to shush her again.

“Sister, don’t forget, speak quietly.”

“Got it, got it! I was just so happy I forgot,” Lu Xiaoyue scratched the back of her head and replied.