The Daily Life of Farming and Raising Children in Ancient Mountain Residences
The Daily Life of Farming and Raising Children in Ancient Mountain Residences Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Shopkeeper Xu, being in the food business, usually had suppliers for most ingredients, but he also frequented other places. About seven or eight days ago, he had seen fairy tofu in the East Market. He bought several pieces and brought them back for Chef Yu to try. He wanted to introduce a new dish, but the next day, the vendor selling fairy tofu didn’t show up. He hadn’t seen the tofu stall even in the West Market. Upon inquiring, he learned that there indeed was a tofu stall that had been there for a while, but it hadn’t come recently.

Shopkeeper Xu guessed it might be because of the busy farming season. He planned to wait until after the busy season to see if they returned. However, he not only found fairy tofu but also discovered another type of white tofu today.

He had bought ten pieces of fairy tofu that day, tried them as a cold dish, and brought a few pieces of regular tofu back for Chef Yu to try.

Originally, he had planned to buy more today, but it just so happened that Sang Lou came to sell this “vegetarian tripe.”

Sang Lou smiled, “It’s our family’s livelihood. I used to sell this in the West Market, but now a few aunts from the village are selling them in the county. Have you bought from them?”

Shopkeeper Xu explained the origin, saying, “I was actually planning to go around today, but it’s fortunate that I met you here, Mrs. Sang.”

Sang Lou raised her eyebrows, roughly guessing that Shopkeeper Xu should have gone to negotiate with Qin Fangniang. However, she didn’t expose it and just smiled, “It’s fate.”

Then she turned to Chef Yu and asked, “I wonder how Chef Yu cooks this dish?”

Chef Yu explained several cooking methods he had come up with, and Sang Lou laughed. It was no wonder he was the head chef of the restaurant; this dish didn’t need any instruction. With the ingredients on hand, he could figure it out himself.

She praised Chef Yu for a while and then said to Shopkeeper Xu, “With a chef like Chef Yu, I really don’t need to intervene. However, my family’s tofu recipe has been experimented with different cooking methods. Some of them seem suitable for the restaurant. Today, I’m able to do business at your Dongdu Resturant, which is also fate. I’ll give you a few recipes as a gift to thank you for your future care.”

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Xu was delighted, and Chef Yu’s eyes also lit up. The most crucial thing in running a restaurant was to keep innovating with the cooking skill at its peak!

Without further ado, Sang Lou quickly shared several tofu recipes she knew, like pouch tofu, Soy Sauce Tofu, Steamed Tofu, Bicolor Tofu, and Stuffed Tofu. Shopkeeper Xu and Chef Yu became increasingly excited as they listened.

Originally, Chef Yu had only a passing interest, but now he eagerly approached and even pushed Shopkeeper Xu aside to ask more detailed questions.

The more he asked, the more enthusiastic he became. Especially for more complicated dishes like pouch tofu, he immediately took a few pieces of tofu Sang Lou brought, called Sang Lou and Shopkeeper Xu to the kitchen, and asked Sang Lou to guide him on the spot.

Not to mention the others, just looking at that pouch tofu dish, where the white tofu was shaped like a golden pouch seedpod, filled with seasoned ingredients, and tied with green onions as a rope at the mouth, then garnished with broth, it was visually stunning. Shopkeeper Xu couldn’t help but applaud!

“This could easily become a signature dish for our restaurant,” he exclaimed excitedly, then turned to ask Sang Lou, “Mrs. Sang, does your family still make this tofu?”

“Of course, we do. Several tofu stalls in the county used to be supplied by my family, but…” She paused for a moment, then smiled, “If Shopkeeper Xu wants to order tofu, you can directly place an order at the same place in the East Market where you bought before. The vendor sets up her stall there every day, so she can deliver the goods to you before she starts selling. It’s more convenient than buying from me directly. When the vegetarian tripe is ready, I’ll ask her to bring it to you as well. As for the long-term pricing for orders, tofu isn’t highly profitable, so the profit margin is quite slim. You can discuss the details directly with her.”

Shopkeeper Xu raised an eyebrow. This business didn’t require any intermediary. He guessed that since he had previously bought tofu in the East Market, Sang Lou assumed he was considering placing a long-term order with the tofu stall there and didn’t want to interfere with that potential business. She was quite straightforward.

That’s a decent move.

As for the price, two cents per piece wasn’t expensive, so he didn’t need to haggle over every penny. He chuckled, “That sounds good. I’ll make another trip to the East Market then.”

Sang Lou smiled and turned to Chef Yu, saying, “Chef Yu, you can also consider various combinations of fish and tofu. Stewed fish head with tofu, simmered until the soup turns milky white, is extremely fresh and tasty. Braised fish with tofu is also a good choice.”

Chef Yu felt like he had discovered a new world. “Tofu pairs well with everything! Tomorrow, I’ll come up with a new dish every day when we have tofu.”

Sang Lou smiled with satisfaction. If Chef Yu could create a tofu feast, the daily orders for tofu at the Dongdu Resturant wouldn’t decrease. Even though they were ordered from Aunt Arita, they ultimately came from her. With Dongdu Resturant offering various tofu dishes, people in the county would follow suit, and the business of several tofu stalls in the county would improve.

When they returned from the kitchen, Shopkeeper Xu was enthusiastic. Back in the private room, he arranged for the waiter to serve tea again and ordered some snacks and refreshments.

Sang Luo hurriedly waved her hand, declining, “Shopkeeper Xu, there’s no need to rush. I also have urgent matters to attend to, so I must leave now.”

Sang Luo wasn’t planning to take back the over one thousand cents she earned today. She intended to buy grains directly in the county, borrowing Qin Fangniang’s cart to pull them back, which she had arranged with Qin Fangniang earlier in the morning.

She couldn’t afford to worry about anything else now; everything was focused on paying the rent and taxes.

With the current rise in grain prices, it was best to buy early and live comfortably. Originally, she had planned to exchange tofu with three households in the village for grains, slowly stocking up. But now, it’s not feasible anymore. Once the taxes were paid, which family in the village would have surplus grain to sell? The Chen family, the Shi family, and the Lu family wouldn’t have surplus grain to exchange for tofu.

So, she could only buy in the county. Moreover, grain merchants wouldn’t arbitrarily raise prices to collect grains. The situation outside was probably not good. Sang Luo didn’t know how bad it was, but for now, all she could do was stock up on grains and prepare for further price increases.

Because Sang Luo wasn’t sure if the price hike by the grain merchants was due to prior knowledge of the government’s taxation announcement. If not, then this sudden taxation by the court would undoubtedly disrupt the grain merchants’ grain procurement plans, and the price might rise again.

Thinking of this, she inquired with Shopkeeper Xu about the reason for the grain price hike.

Seeing her asking about this, Shopkeeper Xu sighed, “You don’t know, do you? This time, several states and counties were affected by flooding.”

He lowered his voice, “It’s said that because the court didn’t provide relief, the situation for the flood victims in those states and counties is truly dire. Among them, there are tragic incidents of resorting to cannibalism. I heard vaguely last month that several states hardest hit by the disaster had outbreaks of plague. Recently, have you noticed that there haven’t been any refugees coming over?”

Upon careful consideration, Sang Luo realized that it was true. The original owner of her body rarely left the village, but since Sang Luo arrived, she frequently traveled to the county seat. Indeed, she hadn’t seen any refugees coming this way recently.

Shopkeeper Xu shook his head, “They can’t come anymore.”

Sang Luo felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this.

If the original owner of the body had escaped a little later, what would the scene be like when Sang Luo transmigrated over?

The one who starved to death or the one who got eaten? Furthermore, with the plague, wouldn’t it be like hell?

Shopkeeper Xu didn’t know that Sang Luo was a refugee who had come from the south. Hearing her inquire about grain prices, he asked, “Are you going to buy grains?”

Sang Luo nodded.

Shopkeeper Xu then advised, “You better hurry. Since the announcement of early tax collection yesterday, the price of grains in the county has already risen to eighty-two cents per dou this morning.”

Sang Luo’s expression changed slightly. “It rose again?”

Shopkeeper Xu nodded, “Indeed, it did. Many people still don’t know. The owner behind the grain shop seems to be in a hurry to collect grains. Although it’s not publicized, it’s hard to conceal the fact that the price of grain has risen. At this moment, there’s probably already a long line outside the grain shop.”

Upon hearing this, Sang Luo’s scalp tingled, and she couldn’t afford to delay any longer. She quickly bid farewell to Shopkeeper Xu and headed towards the grain shop.

Seeing her like this, Shopkeeper Xu called out to Sang Luo, “Mrs. Sang, don’t worry. How much grain do you need? If you’re buying for tax payment, don’t bother queuing up. I have some connections with the grain shop. Let one of my assistants run an errand. They can arrange for the grains to be delivered directly to you, and I’ll have my assistant bring them to your home.”

Sang Luo didn’t know what to say for a moment. She decided to reveal her current situation, presenting her recipes: “Indeed, I’m buying for tax payment. I need four kilogram and four dou. To be honest with you, I also came from the north a few months ago and settled down here. I’ve just built a house, and now I’m practically broke. I only have a thousand cents in silver coins on hand, which I’m earning and buying with. With the grain price rising so urgently, I’m afraid it will rise again later. Shopkeeper Xu, I have an unusual request.”

Before she could finish, Shopkeeper Xu raised his hand to stop her, “I understand. How much silver do you need? I’ll lend you some first, so you can buy the grains you need. Later, you can deduct the payment from the proceeds of the vegetarian tripe.”

Sang Luo breathed a sigh of relief. Following the manner of a man, she bowed slightly and said, “Thank you.”

She quickly calculated in her mind and said, “I have one thousand coins with me today. Could Shopkeeper Xu lend me four thousand coins? I’ll use them to buy six kilogram of grains and transport them back.”

As she spoke, she took out the documents she carried with her and handed them to Shopkeeper Xu, saying, “This is my documents. Shopkeeper Xu, take a look. It contains information about my family and the location of our fields.”

Shopkeeper Xu pushed it back, “Mrs. Sang, there’s no need for that. I consider myself somewhat skilled in judging people. I trust you. I see that you’re going to pay four kilogram and four dou in taxes, and I can roughly estimate your family size. Buying six kilogram of grains won’t be enough. The grain price is likely to continue rising for some time, and it’s hard to say how high it will go. Mrs. Sang, you don’t have to feel embarrassed about borrowing money from me. How about this, I’ll lend you six taels of silver, and you can buy nine kilogram of grains. After paying the taxes, you’ll have about four kilogram and six dou left, which should last until next spring or summer. By then, the disaster should have passed, and the new grains of autumn will be harvested, so the grain price won’t be as high as it is now.”

Sang Luo quickly calculated in her mind. Nine kilogram of grains would cost seven thousand three hundred and eighty coins. If she borrowed six taels of silver from Shopkeeper Xu, it would be equivalent to seven thousand two hundred coins for the grains, leaving her with over eight hundred coins. With the four hundred or so coins she had at home, that would be over one thousand two hundred coins, enough to exchange for one or two taels of silver. She could repay it promptly the next time she came. Plus, with the tofu, vegetarian tripe, and crystal fruit jelly, she could earn a few hundred coins a day just from the tofu and vegetarian tripe. She wouldn’t have to wait too long to repay the debt.

With this calculation in mind, Sang Luo understood the situation. She clasped her hands together and said, “Then I thank Shopkeeper Xu.”

Shopkeeper Xu smiled, “No need to thank me. Consider it my thanks for the recipes you gave. Please wait here for a moment. I’ll have my assistant go and buy the grains for you.”

Seeing Sang Luo about to thank him again, he stopped her and said, “Mrs. Sang, there’s no need for more thanks.”

He called out loudly for the waiter to bring refreshments again and instructed another assistant before sending them off to buy the grains on Sang Luo’s behalf.

Shopkeeper Xu arranged everything and was concerned that Sang Luo might feel uncomfortable staying here. He smiled and said to Sang Luo, “I also have some matters to attend to in my restaurant. I’ll go out and take care of them. Mrs. Sang, you just rest assured. The grains will be delivered directly to the back door shortly. You don’t have to worry about bringing them back yourself. I’ll have my assistant help you transport them when the time comes.”

Sang Luo thanked him again, and Shopkeeper Xu smiled and said a few words to let her rest at ease before leaving the private room.

Not long after, the accountant who helped draft the contract came over with two silver ingots, one large and one small. He placed them on the table next to Sang Luo and said with a smile, “Mrs. Sang, these are the six taels of silver that our shopkeeper asked me to bring to you. Please take them.”

This was the first time Sang Luo had seen silver since she came to this world. Unfortunately, she couldn’t keep it for long before having to spend it. However, the thought of being able to have several kilograms of grains left her feeling much relieved.

She stood up and bowed, saying, “Thank you, sir.”

The accountant smiled and said, “Please sit comfortably, Mrs. Sang. I’ll return to the counter first.”

With that, he bowed slightly and left.

Sang Luo looked at the two silver ingots, feeling a sense of emotion. Originally, because she needed money urgently and was worried about the impact of the increased tax on the sales of tofu, she had intended to broaden the market for tofu. Combined with Shopkeeper Xu’s straightforward character and the good sales of crystal fruit jelly this morning, she ended up receiving a good sum of money from Shopkeeper Xu.

Due to several reasons, she had sent out a few tofu recipes and unexpectedly received Shopkeeper Xu’s assistance and prompt repayment.

Life’s encounters were truly unpredictable. When she went out in the morning, she was thinking about how to ensure she could buy enough grains to pay the taxes within twelve days. In just a couple of hours, not only had she managed to gather enough grains to pay the taxes, but she would also have enough to last until next year’s autumn harvest if she and her two children were thrifty.

Shopkeeper Xu anticipated that they could eat until spring or summer, assuming there was at least one strong laborer in her family who could work on a full stomach.

In reality, there was no such strong laborer. With her two children, if she really bought nine kilograms of grains and paid the taxes, the grains would be enough for them to eat until next year’s autumn harvest.

Although she owed six taels of silver, a debt amount that would make anyone in the village faint upon hearing it, Sang Luo felt it was not too bad. Compared to the uncertainty of how much the grain prices would rise, it was much better to owe Shopkeeper Xu this money and buy the grains first.

It might be a bit tougher in the coming days, with several businesses to run simultaneously, but she shouldn’t need too long to repay the debt.

However, thinking about the situation in the several northern states mentioned by Shopkeeper Xu, Sang Luo’s shoulders drooped. The Great Qian Dynasty had only been established for a few decades, yet it was already in such turmoil. At this rate, she feared she wouldn’t be able to live peacefully until her old age.

6 Comments
  1. s0nablus has spoken 2 months ago

    so that’s why cannibalism is on the tags on nu

    Reply
  2. JShaw has spoken 3 months ago

    I think Mc might have been too rash with giving out so many recipes to a restaurant but I guess it paid off in the end since she ended up currying quite a good favor that really helped her out.

    Hopefully they don’t stab her in the back once they think they don’t need her. They hopefully should give a good heads up first and proper compensation if ever.

    Reply
    • Miawchan has spoken 2 months ago

      I think it’s similar to the concept used by modern cooking appliances manufacturers. Like the Japanese rice cooked, electric lunch box, and pressure cooker I bought came with recipe book. These recipes are shared in modern times so she doesn’t think it’s that precious. What she wants is for people to consume more tofu.

      Reply
  3. M&M's has spoken 5 months ago

    Shopkeeper Xu is a really kind person because he didn’t even have to consider Sang Luo’s situation after making the vegetarian tripe deal with her, but still understood her current and future difficulties, and was willing to help her. I hope both their businesses thrive.

    Thanks for the chapter! 😀

    Reply
  4. Potatosince1992 has spoken 5 months ago

    wew, this was such a relief, inflation is a btch, but those mf corrupt officials! istg

    Reply
  5. TJadakaa has spoken 8 months ago

    First pot of gold and major debt. Still a win is a win.

    Reply

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